If Denver Water supplies your home, keep lawn sprinklers off into spring 2027 unless the Board of Water Commissioners authorizes watering to resume. Denver Water's September 8 update confirms that the October 1, 2026 lawn-watering ban continues until the board acts.
Keep spring restart plans on hold
Shutting down for winter does not set a spring restart date. Leave lawn-watering schedules disabled and check Denver Water's current drought rules before using sprinklers again. The board will decide when watering can resume.
| When | Action |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Keep lawn sprinklers off. |
| Spring 2027 | Keep them off unless the board authorizes a restart. |
What changes on October 1
The August 26 resolution stops grass watering and all spray irrigation for Denver Water customers beginning October 1. It does not ban every way of watering every plant. The allowed method depends on what you are watering. Denver Water can enforce the rule with fines, a flow restrictor, or suspended service, so treat the date as firm.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Lawn (grass) watering by any method | Prohibited after September 30, 2026, including hand watering, unless one of the resolution's written exceptions applies. |
| Written exceptions | High-traffic, active-use grass areas under a Denver Water-approved water budget or variance, and grass establishment under an approved variance. Both require Denver Water approval; ask before assuming one applies. |
| Trees, shrubs, and perennials | Use a hand-held hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle or low-volume, non-spray irrigation. |
| Annuals and vegetable gardens | Use the same hand-held or low-volume methods until the first frost. |
| Installation, repair, or maintenance test | Attend the test and do not waste water. |
| Address served by another utility | Follow that provider's current rule. |
Turn the controller off or reprogram it?
Either approach has to prevent an automatic spray cycle from running. Denver Water's resolution says all irrigation controllers must be reprogrammed to comply with the restrictions. Use the instructions for your controller or ask an irrigation professional if you are unsure how to disable every spray schedule.
- Confirm that Denver Water serves the address.
- Disable every scheduled spray-irrigation program before October 1.
- Keep only the hand-held or low-volume watering methods the resolution allows.
- Watch any installation, repair, or maintenance test from start to finish.
- Check Denver Water's drought page before turning spray irrigation back on.
This rule does not answer the winterization question
Stopping the watering schedule and preparing irrigation equipment for freezing weather are separate jobs. Denver Water's resolution governs water use. It does not provide winterization instructions for a specific controller, backflow assembly, valve, or sprinkler layout. Follow the equipment manufacturer's guidance or use a qualified irrigation contractor for that work.
What if you find a plumbing leak?
A broken sprinkler head, irrigation valve, or controller belongs with an irrigation professional. If the check instead uncovers a leak in customer-owned household plumbing, a hose bib, or a water-supply pipe, Elite Rooter's Denver-serving plumbing team can assess that plumbing problem. For sprinkler programming, repair, or winterization, contact an irrigation contractor.
Denver plumbing contact facts
- Denver-serving phone: (720) 460-9944
- Phones: answered 24/7
- On-site appointment hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Relevant work: customer-owned plumbing and pipe leaks
- Sprinkler programming, repair, and winterization: use an irrigation contractor; Elite Rooter handles the customer-owned plumbing side, such as supply pipes, hose bibs, and leaks
- Exact service availability: confirm by address when you call
The Denver service page is the current source for the local phone and approved plumbing services.
Frequently asked questions
Do Denver homeowners have to turn off sprinklers after September 30, 2026?
Denver Water customers must stop lawn watering and all spray irrigation beginning October 1, 2026. Reprogram the controller so an automatic spray cycle does not run. Customers of another water utility should check that provider's current rules.
Can Denver Water customers still water trees and shrubs?
Yes. Denver Water's resolution allows hand watering with an automatic shutoff nozzle or low-volume, non-spray irrigation for trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Can I run the sprinkler system to test a repair?
Denver Water allows system operation for installation, repair, or reasonable maintenance when someone attends the test and the water is not wasted.
When will Denver Water allow spray irrigation again?
Not on a fixed date. Denver Water says sprinklers need to stay off in spring 2027 until the Board of Water Commissioners acts, so check Denver Water's drought page before restarting a schedule.
Does Elite Rooter repair or program sprinkler systems?
No. This guide explains Denver Water's rule; sprinkler programming, repair, and winterization belong with an irrigation contractor. Elite Rooter's Denver-serving plumbers handle customer-owned plumbing and pipe leaks, confirmed by address when you call.
If you also receive a construction notice, use our Santa Fe Drive water-shutoff guide to prepare for a household service interruption. A utility construction outage is separate from outdoor watering restrictions.