DENVER Denver Water has enacted Stage 1 drought restrictions for all customers across the service area, effective immediately.The utility is targeting a 20% reduction in water use due to worsening drought conditions, and warns that low snowpack could impact supply this year.What does a Stage 1 drought declaration look like for you?This summer, customers in single-family residential properties may water no more than two days per week and must follow a set schedule: Addresses ending in even numbers: Sunday and Thursday. Addresses ending in odd numbers: Wednesday and Saturday.All other customers, including multifamily properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations, and government properties, may water only on Tuesdays and Fridays.In addition, customers must follow Denver Waters annual summer watering rules: Water only during cooler times of the day, between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys. Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt. Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days. Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds. Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.Additionally, Denver Water is strongly urging customers to delay watering lawns until at least mid-May to conserve every drop.The restrictions will remain in place through April of next year.This is the first time a level of restriction this high has been in place since 2013, according to Denver Water. Other areas, such as Thornton, Erie, and the mountain communities of Fairplay, Bailey, and Shawnee, are also under restrictions.Denver Water has three levels of mandatory restrictions in its drought management plan, with Stage 3 being the most restrictive.The move comes as drought conditions deepen across Colorado.Denver Water warns that snowpack levels in both the South Platte and Colorado River basins have plunged to historic lows, and supply reservoirs are only at 80% capacity, which is below the historic median for storage at this time of year.Those numbers help explain why the utility is acting now, adding that its drought response aims to protect landscapes and ensure enough water for public health, safety, and the regions economy.Large water users are also preparing for changes.Denver International Airport has implemented several water-saving measures in recent years.A DIA spokesperson reported that improvements in restrooms and low-flow fixtures reduced annual water use by 25% from 2022 to 2024, despite a 19% increase in passenger traffic.The airport will implement irrigation restrictions soon.Denver Water has not communicated specific restrictions that will impact the airport's day-to-day operations. DEN has a small irrigation system at our Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station 1 that will be put on restrictions, a DIA spokesperson said. Other businesses are also bracing for the ripple effects.Hello Deluxe Car Wash manager Chris Heckle said the business uses 80% recycled water and recently made additional water-saving changes.We did reduce the amount of chemicals we're putting on cars, so we are putting them on a little bit later and turning them off a little bit sooner just to conserve that water, Heckle said. But when we do let our customers clean their mats, they're using fresh water, so we would ask them to use less."With restrictions now in place, the utility hopes early action will prevent deeper cuts later. ...read more read less