On Monday, Sept. 28, Aurora City Council passed an ordinance that places new restrictions on the installation of turf grass and ornamental water features like fountains and decorative ponds across the city, along with seasonal limits on spray irrigation.
The ordinance takes effect on Oct. 1 for most areas and Oct. 15 for high-use active areas like parks, athletic fields and residences.  
Why now: Water used to irrigate high-water-use turf, and water lost to evaporation from ornamental water features, can't be recaptured and reused through Aurora Water's Prairie Waters potable reuse system. In a region where water is a finite resource, every drop matters.
What the ordinance does: 

• Seasonal watering restrictions: Spray irrigation is prohibited from Oct. 1 through April 30 for most areas and from Oct. 15 through April 30 for high-traffic active use areas like residential yards, parks and athletic fields. 
• New turf and water features: Citywide, residents may not install new cool-weather turf (such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescue) or ornamental water features. 

What residents and businesses should know:

• Residential customers with lawns serviced by the residential meter must stop irrigating by Oct. 15.
• Multi-family and HOA areas that are not communal use must stop irrigating by Oct. 1, and communal-use space must stop irrigating by Oct. 15.

The Oct. 1 date for shutting off an irrigation system aligns with best practices for maintaining and protecting sensitive pipes from costly freezing damage. In Colorado, the frost date is normally around the first week of October. If you haven’t already, blow out your irrigation system, or schedule an irrigation specialist or landscaper to do it for you. Aurora Water continues to promote low-water turf varieties and water-wise landscaping as attractive, functional alternatives that are better suited to the region's climate. 

Landscape watering rules during Stage 1 drought restrictions

During Stage 1 Drought, water conservation measures help Aurora residents achieve a 20% reduction in outdoor water use. The conservation measures below help keep our communities healthy and safe during water shortages. 

• Outdoor irrigation is limited to two days per week (May - Sept.) and is not permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Spray irrigation is restricted from Oct. 1 through April 30 for most areas.
  

• Spray irrigation is restricted from Oct. 15 through April 30 for high-use areas such as yards, parks and sports fields.

• No new cool-weather turf can be installed

• Private pools cannot be filled; however, topping off pools that are already full is allowed. Shared community pools will still be allowed in Stage 1. 

• Decorative water features are not permitted.

• Restaurants will serve water only upon patrons' request.

• Between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., hand-watering vegetable or flower gardens is allowed.

• Hand watering (hose or manual sprinkler attachment) of grass lawns follows the same guidelines as an automatic sprinkler system. The maximum number of days per week and daytime watering restrictions outlined above apply.

• Use a hose nozzle and shut-off valve when watering your garden or washing your car.

• Water waste such as excessive runoff, pooling water in landscape or hard surfaces and spraying onto hard surfaces (sidewalks, driveways, gutters, streets or alleys) is not permitted.

• Broken sprinkler systems should be repaired or shut off as soon as possible to prevent waste

• Click here to report water waste violations.

Other water-saving tips:

• Do not water while it's raining or during high winds. Aurora Water offers rebates on rain sensors and smart controllers to help.
  
  
• Check your sprinkler system to ensure it is working properly and not spraying concrete or asphalt.
    
• Sign up for a free Outdoor Water Assessment (June 1 - Aug. 31) for a full inspection and recommendations on keeping your sprinkler system working efficiently. Space is limited.
  
  
• Check out our DIY outdoor water assessment guide to help you conduct an outdoor water assessment on your own.

We all need to do our part to save water. Please use water wisely.

Enforcement