Drought

Stage 1 Drought

The Lakehurst Water and Sanitation District has implemented Denver Water’s Mandatory Drought Restriction Program.

Stage 1 drought means Denver Water is asking customers to reduce their total water use (outdoor and indoor) by at least 20%, which will help preserve water levels in our reservoirs and help us avoid the need to increase restrictions later this summer. To help reach that goal, we are imposing mandatory outdoor watering restrictions of two days per week on assigned days during the irrigation season through Oct. 1. Denver Water and Lakehurst District recommend customers keep automatic systems off until mid-to-late May.

It's a Drought

Mandatory 2 days per week watering restrictions are in effect.
Single-family homes: SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT
Odd numbered address 💧 💧
Even-numbered address 💧 💧
All others, Including:
multifamily and commercial 		💧 💧

These rules apply every summer, regardless of drought conditions:

  • No watering lawns between 10am and 6pm.
  • 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.

Enforcement and Fines:

Nature of Violation

  • Watering between 10am and 6pm with spray irrigation.
  • Excessive Watering – more than 2 days per week, or on unassigned days.
  • Watering during rain/wind.
  • Watering on pave surfaces – runoff or pooling.
  • Failing to repair leaks within 10 days after notice.
  • Failing to use a hoze nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

Penalties

  • 1st time- warning
  • 2nd - $250
  • 3rd - $500
  • 4th - $1000

Other Information on watering and irrigation:

Outdoor Watering and Irrigation
Turf grass Maximum of three days/week of customer's choice. Maximum of three days/week of customer's choice. One to two days/week per mandatory schedule. No watering allowed. No watering allowed.
New grass seed or new sod Extra watering allowed. Extra watering allowed with approved exemption. Except with approved exemption. No watering allowed. No watering allowed.
New plantings Allowed. Allowed. Not allowed. Not allowed.
Sod replacement Allowed. Allowed. Not recommended
June-August 		Not recommended
June-August 		Not recommended
June-August
Trees, shrubs and perennials May be watered by hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray except from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May be watered by hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray except from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May be watered by hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray except from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Existing trees and shrubs may be watered by means of a hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray once per week on scheduled day. If allowed, use hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray one assigned day per month.

Drought Surcharge Letter

May 10, 2026

Dear Lakehurst Customer

In response to a historically dry winter, Denver Water Board declared a Stage 1 drought on March 25, 2026, and imposed mandatory watering restrictions limiting outdoor watering to two days per week and seeking a 20% reduction in overall water use. In addition to watering restrictions, Denver Water Board has implemented a temporary drought rate surcharge for all its' customers.

Lakehurst Water and Sanitation District will assess this surcharge to all customers that use over a predetermined amount. For residential accounts this amount is the average winter consumption (AWC) for all residential customers. The surcharge will be a separate charge on the bill starting in June for May consumption.

Lakehurst has determined, based on average use, the AWC for all residential customers to be 5,000 gallons per month. Any use over that amount will be assessed an additional surcharge of $1.65 per 1,000 gallons. In summary, if you use more water, you pay more.

Multi-family, Commercial and Irrigation accounts will also be assessed a surcharge on water used based on a different calculation due to the variable usage patterns within these customer classes. These charges are as follows:

Commercial accounts ($1.00 applied to ALL usage)
Multi-family accounts ($1.00 applied to ALL usage)
Irrigation Only accounts ($1.65 applied to all usage)

Please contact the District office at 303-985-7895 for information or visit our Drought page at www.lakehurstwater.org.

Sincerely,
Lakehurst Board of Directors