It may seem to early in the year to talk about watering rules, but the new permanent watering rules for Colorado Springs that were approved by the City Council in December went in to effect on January 1st, so we thought we'd let you know about them. 50% of water used in Colorado Springs is for outdoor spaces, so the new rules are intended to allow people to have green, lush yards without waste.
Key changes impacting Colorado Springs residents include:
1. Watering with sprinklers is limited to any three days of your choice per week.
- From May 1 to October 15, sprinklers can be operated before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Sprinklers can be operated at any time of day before May 1 and after October 15.
- Allocation plans are available for customers who need more watering schedule flexibility. An allocation plan allows customers more schedule flexibility than three days per week, but it does not give customers more water. Customers with allocation plans must still follow the time of day watering rules.
- Drip irrigation, watering cans, and hose watering with a shut-off nozzle are allowed at any time.
2. Establishment permits are required for customers who need to temporarily water more than three days a week to establish new landscapes. An establishment permit is only needed for areas that will be watered with overhead sprinklers. An establishment permit will allow customers to water more frequently than three days per week and to water during the day when overhead sprinklers are normally not allowed. The permit will be valid for four to six weeks.
3. Broken or leaking sprinkler systems are required to be fixed within 10 days.
4. Water runoff from irrigation flowing across the ground, street or sidewalk is prohibited.
Colorado Springs Utilities has resources to help residents with sprinkler systems:
- Follow this suggested irrigation schedule
- Use "cycle and soak" scheduling according to our fact sheet and video to reduce water runoff
- Make improvements with these sprinkler system tips
- Save on system improvements with our irrigation rebates for residential or business customers
Water-wise rules are considered foundational water practices in Colorado. We live in a semi-arid environment where water is a limited resource. The Integrated Water Resource Plan, approved by the Utilities Board in 2017, includes water efficiency as a source of future supply. The ordinance changes are expected to meet 10% of the efficiency goal and align us with other Front Range cities.
All Seasons requires residents to keep their landscaping looking great. It will be important this summer to follow the CSU watering schedules and still maintain your yards. If you have any questions, call our office at: (719) 632-3368.
