How to Avoid Extra Water Charges During Denver’s Stage 1 Drought
As Denver enters Stage 1 drought conditions, Denver Water is asking residents to cut water use by 20% — and avoid getting hit with higher bills in the process. According to FOX31, new restrictions limit outdoor watering to just two assigned days per week, while a tiered pricing system now charges more for households that go beyond their typical winter water usage.
Basic indoor use like cooking, cleaning, and bathing falls under Tier 1 and won’t trigger extra fees. But once you exceed that baseline, you move into Tier 2, where usage costs $1.10 per thousand gallons, and Tier 3, where it jumps to $2.20. That means small changes at home can actually save you money.
Denver Water recommends simple habits like running full loads of laundry and dishes, shortening showers, and checking for leaks — even a small drip can waste up to 8 gallons an hour. Outdoor watering should also be done early in the morning or later in the evening to prevent evaporation, and residents are encouraged to hold off on using sprinkler systems until mid-to-late May.
Officials say if the community works together, these small adjustments can go a long way in conserving water and avoiding unnecessary charges during the drought.
