Denver Water Customers Save 1.57 Billion Gallons
Stage 1 drought restrictions and below-average use drove October conservation across the utility's service area.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Current Conditions
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Denver Water customers conserved approximately 1.57 billion gallons of water in October, with overall use 28% below the five-year average. The savings followed Stage 1 drought restrictions that banned lawn watering beginning October 1.
Why it matters
Denver residents face a dry season with snowpack and streamflows well below normal, making conservation central to protecting regional water supplies. Denver Water has warned that reservoir storage could fall below 60% before next spring's runoff.
Denver Water reported October savings of 1.57 billion gallons, equal to 4,830 acre-feet, against a use level 28% below the five-year average. Whether reservoir storage drops below 60% before spring remains a projection that depends on the coming runoff.
The players
Denver Water
Denver Water is the public utility that supplies water to Denver and surrounding communities, and its Board of Water Commissioners sets conservation rules during drought.
The details
Denver Water's Board of Water Commissioners voted unanimously in August to implement Stage 1 drought restrictions. The rules prohibited lawn watering beginning October 1 while allowing hand watering and soaker hoses for trees and shrubs, with some high-traffic areas such as parks and athletic fields eligible for exemptions.
Timeline
April through July 2026: Streamflows reached 22% of normal, the lowest in approximately 110 years.
August 2026: The Board of Water Commissioners voted unanimously for Stage 1 drought restrictions.
October 1, 2026: The lawn watering ban took effect.
October 2026: Customers saved about 1.57 billion gallons of water.
Seasonal Patterns
Colorado's South Platte basin snowpack peaked at 42% of normal, and April through July streamflows of 22% of normal were the lowest in about 110 years. The October conservation results reflect a multi-season deficit rather than a single dry month.
Residents should avoid lawn watering under the Stage 1 restrictions, using hand watering or soaker hoses for trees and shrubs instead. Households that cut outdoor use now help protect reservoir storage ahead of the spring runoff season.
The takeaway
Lower outdoor use during dry seasons adds up quickly, with October's savings alone enough to supply up to 25,000 households for a year. Conserving early helps buffer reservoirs against a below-normal runoff.
Further reading
For the latest local drought readings, see Current Conditions for Denver.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX31 Denver KDVR.
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