Denver Water’s goal for drought response is to preserve the quality of public life and economic activity to the extent possible in the face of water shortage.

Droughts, a natural phenomenon, occur with unpredictable frequency and variable intensity. During drought, flows into Denver Water’s reservoirs may be below normal, causing customers to have to reduce their typical water use. In addition, weather conditions in Denver Water’s service area may be drier than normal and may stress vegetation.

This Drought Response Plan is intended to assist the Denver Board of Water Commissioners in making policy decisions during times of drought and watering restrictions. The current plan, which incorporates lessons learned during the 2002–2003 drought in Denver Water’s service area, will be updated regularly to ensure that it addresses current conditions.

The plan approaches drought response from four perspectives—triggers (which indicate the severity of a drought), drought response measures, public outreach, and internal communication.

Actual water supply and supply projections trigger drought response. The severity of the water supply picture determines the stage of drought declared and the corresponding level of response. The Drought Response Plan recommends a progressive response to worsening drought conditions. Recommended drought response measures are aimed at reducing water use by varying percentages, based on predicted reservoir storage.

Each set of responses is triggered by expected or actual reservoir storage on July 1 of any given year. (July 1 was chosen as the trigger date because storage in Denver Water’s system usually reaches its annual maximum around that date.) Four stages of drought, each signaled by a specific storage level trigger, are designated:

July 1 storage levels are forecast monthly from February through June each year. These forecasts consider past, present and future conditions in Denver Water’s watersheds. The closer the forecast date is to July 1, the more accurate the forecast. Even the April forecast involves a high degree of uncertainty because spring (April through June) precipitation, still unknown, can dramatically affect July 1 reservoir storage levels.

In 2002, the Board of Water Commissioners adopted a policy stating that Denver Water’s goal for drought response is to preserve the quality of public life and economic activity to the extent possible in the face of water shortage. The Drought Response Plan outlines specific measures designed to maximize available water supplies and minimize water use. Because every drought is different, the Board will adjust and refine drought response measures based on actual conditions.

Denver Water’s prime response to drought is to budget water use so supplies will be available for the most essential uses. The water use restrictions imposed during the 2002–2003 drought indicated that no single "silver bullet" was effective at encouraging all customers to reduce water use. Instead, a "basket of programs"—restrictions, surcharges, enforcement, incentives, and monitoring and evaluation—is recommended to create an overall atmosphere that encourages water savings.

Restrictions
The Board has adopted a set of principles to guide the development of drought restrictions:

• Avoid irretrievable loss of natural resources.
• Restrict less essential uses before essential uses.
• Affect individuals or small groups before affecting large groups or the public as a whole, allowing as much public activity as possible to be unaffected.
• Minimize adverse financial effects on the community.
• Eliminate water waste.

The basic response to a Stage 1 Drought is voluntary measures; to a Stage 2 Drought, mandatory restrictions; to a Stage 3 Drought, a general prohibition on lawn watering; and to a Stage 4 Drought, rationing of water supplies for essential uses. Because Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4 Drought restrictions are mandatory, they must be incorporated into Denver Water’s Operating Rules, where they become enforceable pursuant to the Denver Charter, the Denver Revised Municipal Code and provisions in Denver Water’s water service agreements and water leases.

Drought restrictions should not be confused with ongoing water conservation efforts. Restrictions may be harsh, cannot always be fair, and are not intended for long-term use. Water-dependent businesses will be negatively affected by water use restrictions. Denver Water encourages water-dependent businesses to develop their own Drought Response Plans to guide them through periods of drought and restrictions.

Surcharges
During drought conditions, Denver Water must confront three overriding objectives: (1) to quickly reduce the volume of water used by its customers, (2) to maintain adequate revenues to meet its financial obligations, and (3) to consider the opposing needs of existing demand and growth. Drought pricing can be an effective tool in managing these objectives, and drought surcharges must be considered as part of an overall demand reduction and financial stabilization program.

Enforcement
Drought monitors enforce the drought restrictions and water waste rules. The goal of the drought monitors is to help customers comply with the rules, not merely to penalize violators.

Incentives
To encourage immediate water savings during a drought, Denver Water may develop incentive programs such as rebates, educational programs that teach water savings skills, and clinics on drought-tolerant landscaping and watering practices.

Monitoring and Evaluation
Denver Water’s staff will begin monitoring and evaluation activities as soon as the Board declares a drought. Water savings will be tracked and compared with normal water use and weather-adjusted expected use. If water use is not being reduced, modifications to the drought response efforts may be recommended.

A Stage 1 Drought is triggered by actual or expected July 1 reservoir storage of 80 percent or lower. The goal in a Stage 1 Drought is to reduce water use by 10 percent. Declaration of a Stage 1 Drought is meant to warn customers that water levels are significantly below average and that continued dry weather could trigger a Stage 2 Drought. Recommended responses to a Stage 1 Drought include:

• Set the tone for a dry irrigation season.

• Reduce water demand to prevent progression to a Stage 2 Drought.

• Request that customers voluntarily reduce their water use by 10 percent.

• Enact the Stage 1 Drought restriction clause in contracts.

• Activate the water budget program for large-volume customers.

• Warn of and prepare for a Stage 2 Drought.

• Implement a public awareness campaign.

A Stage 2 Drought is triggered by actual or predicted July 1 reservoir storage of 65 percent or lower. The goal in a Stage 2 Drought is to reduce water use by 30 percent. (When July 1 storage levels are forecast at or below 70 percent, Denver Water’s staff will begin planning for a potential Stage 2 Drought and may recommend that a Stage 2 Drought be declared before reservoir storage reaches 65 percent.) A Stage 2 Drought activates mandatory water use restrictions and requires a significant effort on the part of customers. Recommended responses to a Stage 2 Drought include:

• Allow watering only two days per week.
• Set a limit on the watering time allowed per watering day.
• Restrict or eliminate nonessential water uses.
• Implement a water use reduction goal of 30 percent for large-volume customers.
• Consider giving high-public-use customers special consideration.
• Implement industry-specific water restriction programs.
• Activate the enforcement program.
• Enact the Stage 2 Drought restriction clause in contracts.
• Design a surcharge program to support the mandatory drought restrictions.
• Implement a public awareness campaign.

A Stage 3 Drought is triggered by actual or predicted July 1 reservoir storage of 40 percent or lower. The goal in a Stage 3 Drought is to reduce water use by 50 percent. A Stage 3 Drought activates prohibitions on most lawn watering and other mandatory water restrictions. Stage 3 Drought restrictions are severe and may result in significant damage to landscapes. Recommended responses to a Stage 3 Drought include:

• Allow one day of watering per week for trees and shrubs (no turf watering except on high-public-use areas).
• Set a limit on the watering time allowed per watering day.
• Eliminate all nonessential water uses.
• Implement a water use reduction goal of 50 percent for large-volume customers.
• Implement industry-specific water restriction programs.
• Enact the Stage 3 Drought restriction clause in contracts.

A Stage 4 Drought is triggered by actual or predicted July 1 reservoir storage of 25 percent. The goal in a Stage 4 Drought is to reduce water use by 66 percent. A Stage 4 Drought activates a rationing program for Denver Water’s customers. Restrictions under a Stage 4 Drought are severe and will probably result in long-term damage to landscapes. Though it is highly unlikely that conditions would ever warrant declaration of a Stage 4 Drought, recommended responses include:

• Limit outdoor watering to monthly tree watering.
• Eliminate nonessential water uses.
• Design a water-rationing program to provide customers water for essential uses for an indefinite period of extreme drought.

In order for the Drought Response Plan to be effective, Denver Water must communicate effectively with all its customers. The three major components of Denver Water’s Drought Communication Program are public involvement, customer information, and media relations.

Communication among Denver Water’s divisions is crucial to ensure that all activities at Denver Water support the drought response efforts. Three committees will oversee implementation of the Drought Response Plan: the Drought Response Committee, the Executive Drought Committee, and the Drought Compliance Committee. The Drought Ambassadors Program will disseminate timely, accurate drought information to all employees.