Temporary drought pricing is in effect as part of Denver Water’s Stage 1 drought response
The Denver Board of Water Commissioners adopted a resolution approving the implementation of temporary drought pricing on outdoor water use. The drought pricing will apply starting with May water use (reflected in June bills) and will be in effect through April 30, 2027, or until further action by the board.
Under the temporary drought pricing, residential customers will see a drought charge on Tier 2 water use of $1.10 per 1,000 gallons. Tier 3 will have a drought charge of $2.20 per 1,000 gallons. The temporary drought charges will be added on top of the customer’s existing 2026 water rates.
Tier 1, which covers essential indoor water use, is exempt from drought pricing.
Learn more about drought pricing.
Residential Treated Water Rates
For meters read on or after Jan. 1, 2026. Drought pricing will apply starting with May water use (reflected in June bills).
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 | $0.00 | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 | $0.00 | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 | $0.00 | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 | $0.00 | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 | $0.00 | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 | $0.00 | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 | $0.00 | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 | $0.00 | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 | $0.00 | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 | $0.00 | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly Consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons | Drought Charge | Rate per 1,000 gallons + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $3.02 | $0.00 | $3.02 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $5.44 | $1.10 | $6.54 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $7.25 | $2.20 | $9.45 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1″ | $3.78 | $0.00 | $3.78 |
| 2″ | $6.31 | $0.00 | $6.31 |
| 4″ | $9.74 | $0.00 | $9.74 |
| 6″ | $13.92 | $0.00 | $13.92 |
| 8″ | $24.36 | $0.00 | $24.36 |
| 10″ | $34.80 | $0.00 | $34.80 |
| 12″ | $55.68 | $0.00 | $55.68 |
| 16″ | $139.20 | $0.00 | $139.20 |
| Fire Hydrants | $13.92 | $0.00 | $13.92 |
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 | $0.00 | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 | $0.00 | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 | $0.00 | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 | $0.00 | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 | $0.00 | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 | $0.00 | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 | $0.00 | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 | $0.00 | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 | $0.00 | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 | $0.00 | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons | Drought Charge | Rate per 1,000 gallons + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $3.03 | $0.00 | $3.03 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $5.45 | $1.10 | $6.55 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $7.26 | $2.20 | $9.46 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1″ | $2.56 | $0.00 | $2.56 |
| 2″ | $4.27 | $0.00 | $4.27 |
| 4″ | $6.60 | $0.00 | $6.60 |
| 6″ | $9.43 | $0.00 | $9.43 |
| 8″ | $16.51 | $0.00 | $16.51 |
| 10″ | $23.58 | $0.00 | $23.58 |
| 12″ | $37.73 | $0.00 | $37.73 |
| 16″ | $94.32 | $0.00 | $94.32 |
| Fire Hydrants | $9.52 | $0.00 | $9.52 |
Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill
| Meter Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅝″ & ¾″ | $20.91 | $0.00 | $20.91 |
| 1″ | $31.30 | $0.00 | $31.30 |
| 1 ½″ | $60.88 | $0.00 | $60.88 |
| 2″ | $102.31 | $0.00 | $102.31 |
| 3″ | $220.76 | $0.00 | $220.76 |
| 4″ | $386.50 | $0.00 | $386.50 |
| 6″ | $860.29 | $0.00 | $860.29 |
| 8″ | $1,522.47 | $0.00 | $1,522.47 |
| 10″ | $2,375.18 | $0.00 | $2,375.18 |
| 12″ | $3,418.41 | $0.00 | $3,418.41 |
Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons
Single-Family Residential Customers
| Tier | Monthly consumption (gallons) | Rate per 1,000 gallons | Drought Charge | Rate per 1,000 gallons + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 to average winter consumption (AWC) — see Note 3 | $4.37 | $0.00 | $4.37 |
| Tier 2 | AWC + 15,000 | $7.87 | $1.10 | $8.97 |
| Tier 3 | Greater than AWC + 15,000 | $10.49 | $2.20 | $12.69 |
Private Fireline
| Fireline Size (inches) | Monthly Charge | Drought Charge | Monthly Charge + Drought Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1″ | $4.28 | $0.00 | $4.28 |
| 2″ | $7.15 | $0.00 | $7.15 |
| 4″ | $11.05 | $0.00 | $11.05 |
| 6″ | $15.78 | $0.00 | $15.78 |
| 8″ | $27.62 | $0.00 | $27.62 |
| 10″ | $39.45 | $0.00 | $39.45 |
| 12″ | $63.13 | $0.00 | $63.13 |
| 16″ | $157.81 | $0.00 | $157.81 |
| Fire Hydrants | $15.78 | $0.00 | $15.78 |
Notes
- Applicability: See Chapter 2 of Denver Water's Operating Rules.
- Payment: Bills are due and payable to Denver Water upon issuance. Monthly bills are delinquent 20 days after the billing date. Late charges will be assessed per Denver Water policy.
- Single Family AWC: A customer's average winter consumption (AWC) is used to determine the tier 1 threshold. The AWC is calculated by averaging each customer’s billed monthly water use from January through March, which is a way of determining essential indoor water use. Denver Water has set the tier 1 minimum threshold at 5,000 gallons, and a maximum of 15,000 gallons. For example, if the customer's AWC is less than 5,000 gallons, tier 1 is 0 to 5,000 gallons. If the AWC is over 15,000 gallons, tier 1 is 0 to 15,000 gallons. Volume rates are applied to billed monthly usage.