2009 Summer Watering Rules and Tips

In 2009 Denver Water will continue to enforce watering rules*, so please use water wisely.

• Water during cooler times of day — lawn watering is NOT allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.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 use spray irrigation during rain or strong winds

*Please note, there are some exceptions to watering rules and how the rules apply to gardening.

THESE RULES ARE MANDATORY

Penalties are:

• 1st violation — warning
• 2nd violation — $50 fine 
• 3rd violation — $100 fine

Continued violations can result in suspension of service.

REPORT WATER WASTE

• If you see water waste in Denver parks (water use that doesn’t meet the rules above), call 3-1-1 to report the waste
• To report water waste anywhere else, call Denver Water at 303-628-6343

THE MORE YOU USE, THE MORE YOU PAY

Water rates increased for 2009. Follow these rules and guidelines and you’ll reduce waste and save money. For more information on rates, visit our rates section.

Recommended watering times change as summer weather heats up and cools down, so refer to the chart. Watering two days a week should be sufficient during most of the summer. If needed, water a third day during extreme heat or dry periods. Water trees and shrubs as needed, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Shrubs and perennials need half as much water as lawns.

There are no assigned watering days, but never water more than three days a week.

Use the chart to help determine the number of minutes to water each zone on the days you water.

Get to know your timer. Never set it and forget it.

These times are averages. Adjust your watering minutes based on rainfall, type of grass or plants, sunny or shady locations and other characteristics of your yard. If your lawn looks healthy, try reducing these times by two minutes per zone. If everyone did this, we would save about 900 million gallons of water a year. That would fill more than 40,000 semi trailers and help ensure sufficient water supplies for future generations.

For more precise information, visit Watering Your Lawn.

Here are some simple tips for outdoor watering to help you use only what you need.

• Check soil moisture before you water. Your lawn may not be as thirsty as you think. Tip: Walk across your lawn. Look back for footprints. If you don’t see any, your lawn doesn’t need water.
• Change the time setting on your automatic controller each month. Once a month, adjust the clock on your irrigation system to the correct watering times (see chart). As you get to know your landscape needs, try shaving two minutes off a few zones and save even more water. You can maintain a healthy lawn with less water, and adjusting the watering times based on seasonal weather conditions helps you use only what you need.
• Cycle water: 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off. Regulate your water usage with an inexpensive, easy-to-use hose timer. Install the timer between the spigot and the hose. Some timers allow cyclical watering — 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off — so that water penetrates the soil, creating a healthier lawn with less water. For clay soils and slopes, eliminate runoff by applying water for a short time, such as 5 minutes, allowing water to soak in. Repeat this cycle until soil is saturated, never longer than 30 minutes.
• Don’t water during rain or strong winds. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, consider installing a rainfall sensor to prevent your system from watering in the rain. Denver Water offers rebates worth $25 to $50 for these devices. Wind is an enemy of spray irrigation. It speeds evaporation, and water blows away from intended landscapes. Wait for winds to die down.
• Add a weather-based smart controller to your irrigation system — especially if you have a large lot. Evapotranspiration (ET) is a measure of water lost from soil by evaporation and transpiration (usage by plants). A weather-based smart controller, or ET controller, can be added to your system so watering is based on ET readings. By taking into account air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind and natural rainfall, an ET controller calculates the degree of evapotranspiration and allocates the proper amount of water for your lawn.
  Denver Water offers a rebate (PDF) of 25% off the purchase price for such devices. Contact your irrigation or landscape service provider to help with purchase and installation.