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Arvada declares drought, authorizes city manager to issue water‑conservation rules aligned with Denver Water
Summary
Council declared a drought and authorized the city manager to promulgate administrative water‑conservation rules consistent with Denver Water’s stage 1 actions, including two‑day watering schedules and enforcement steps; staff warned snowpack and headwater conditions are historically poor.
Arvada infrastructure staff told the City Council on March 3 that statewide and regional hydrologic indicators require early action. Water Resources Administrator Amy Wilhite said Colorado is experiencing “the warmest snow season in 131 years” and that parts of the Colorado headwaters are in extreme or exceptional drought. Wilhite and Infrastructure Director Jacqueline Rhodes explained that about 75% of Arvada’s raw water supply comes through a contract with Denver Water and that Denver Water’s anticipated declaration of Stage 1 shortage will govern certain city actions.
Rhodes said the proposed resolution (R26‑025) would declare drought and authorize the city manager to promulgate administrative rules for local conservation that align with Denver Water’s stages. Staff described typical Stage 1 measures they plan to adopt if Denver Water implements them: a two‑day‑per‑week outdoor watering schedule tied to address, no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., guidance limiting vehicle and power‑washing, and restaurant guidance to serve water only upon request. She also noted tools the city and partners can deploy: Resource Central irrigation audits, advanced metering and a customer portal, slow‑flow evaluations, and outreach via arvadaco.gov/drought.
On enforcement, staff explained Arvada already has a code section addressing waste of water and described an escalating enforcement sequence of warning, $100, $250 and $500 charges and, as a last resort, water restriction or shutoff for noncompliance. Council asked for clarification about outreach timing and customer support; staff said the city has stood up a drought task force and will coordinate messaging with Denver Water. Council member Davis moved to approve R26‑025; the resolution passed 6–0 with Mayor Simpson excused.
What happens next: staff will monitor Denver Water actions and translate any regional stage decision into locally promulgated rules under the authority granted by council. Staff said they will post rules and guidance at arvadaco.gov/drought and engage the business community and residents through the city’s communications channels.
