Leading in Water Conservation and Reuse

Published On: July 29, 2026
U.S. drought monitor graphic of Colorado showing nearly the entire state in one of the stages of drought. The headwater areas in the mountains are in exceptional drought with cascading levels coming down in intensity from there.

As of July 2026, nearly the entire state of Colorado is in a stage of drought. Click to view a larger image.

As Colorado endures one of the worst droughts we have ever seen, communities across the state are trying to make do with much less water. During this unprecedented time, everyone plays a critical role in conserving the precious water we have.

For Aurora, this meant leading the charge by being one of the first cities in Colorado to declare drought conditions and implement enhanced water conservation measures to reduce outdoor water use by 20%.

Enhanced Water Conservation

Aurora Water has been a national leader in water conservation for many years, but this year, we have taken conservation to the next level. Our enhanced conservation measures implemented during the drought include restricting water used for irrigation and other outdoor use, enhancing water waste enforcement, more aggressive issuing of warnings and fines to violators, eliminating the installation of new cool-weather turf, and more.

So far this year, Aurora Water has issued more than 2,500 warnings and nearly 200 fines to those who have not been following the required water use restrictions. This is a huge increase from last year where we gave out about 900 warnings and 6 fines.

Conservation has long been a cornerstone of Aurora’s water strategy. Through a combination of water-wise programs, investments in infrastructure, and the efforts of Aurora’s residents and businesses, the city has steadily reduced water demand over the past two decades. Today, the average Aurora resident uses about 36% less water than in 2000. That sustained commitment to conservation helps Aurora make the most of available water, retain more water in storage during wetter years, and build resilience as Colorado experiences more frequent and prolonged droughts.

Water Reuse

Conservation is only one piece to the puzzle. Aurora is also Colorado’s leader in water reuse, which allows every drop of water to go farther. Through its Prairie Waters system, Aurora captures return flows from the South Platte River and uses advanced treatment technologies to produce high-quality drinking water which, as the system expands, will enable the city to reuse up to 95% of its water. Aurora also operates the Sand Creek Reclamation Facility, which produces reclaimed water for irrigation at parks, golf courses, and other landscaped areas, reducing the need to use drinking water for outdoor irrigation.

We Are in This Together

Both water conservation and reuse are critical to making every drop of water count. As the state of Colorado faces a severe lack of water, Aurora Water is committed to doing our part to preserve and conserve our precious water sources. We are all in this together.