Colorado's largest water utility on Wednesday declared a Stage 2 drought, saying March snowfall was not enough to improve the current conditions.
That means starting next week, Denver Water customers will be assigned two days a week for lawn watering.
Other restrictions will also take effect, including what hours residents can water. Many water providers, including Fort Collins, Aurora and Colorado Springs have also announced their intention to implement restrictions starting as soon as April 1.
The same week that large utilities are setting limits on outdoor watering, the Colorado Water Conservation Board is launching a new website that gives state residents access to information about restrictions affecting their local communities.
Colorado’s Drought Response Portal allows users to search local watering rules by zip code. It can also direct users to other state and regional resources for water and drought-related information.
“This website will enable families to quickly determine exactly which restrictions apply to them, reducing confusion and making conservation easier,” John Stulp, the Governor’s water policy advisor, said in a press release.
The site also features tips to help maintain yards during a dry summer, as well as a drought meter, which links to resources about Colorado’s current snowpack and reservoir levels.
The U.S. Drought Monitor shows all of Colorado is experiencing some level of drought. The statewide snowpack was 79 percent of average as of Tuesday, and reservoir levels around the state are low.
