Some restoration activities can take place year-round while others require warmer weather, when conditions are ideal for establishing new vegetation. 

• Sod restoration:
  • Temporary erosion matting (a hay-like material) will be placed over the excavation area with grass seed underneath.
  • If the seed does not germinate, sod will be installed when temperatures are appropriate for irrigation.
• Hardscape restoration:
  • Rock, pavers and mulch can be replaced year-round.
• Concrete restoration:
  • Concrete can be restored in winter if temperatures remain at or above freezing and the ground is not frozen. If it rains or snows, crews may place concrete blankets over the newly installed concrete until it is fully cured.
• Asphalt restoration:
  • Temperatures must be 46 degrees or warmer (depending on location and jurisdiction) for asphalt restoration. If it’s too cold, temporary asphalt patches will be used until permanent restoration can take place. Mill and overlay, in which crews remove the top layer of asphalt and replace it with new, smooth pavement, may be required.

Crews will: 

• Clean the work area. 

• Place a temporary asphalt patch over any excavations in the street and sidewalk until permanent restoration takes place. 

• Use dirt to backfill disturbed landscape and level the surface. (The dirt may need to settle before seed, sod or other landscaping is installed.) 

• The timing of final restoration of asphalt, concrete and landscaping depends on weather and schedule constraints. 

Construction is noisy; however, Denver Water implements best management practices to minimize noise in your neighborhood. In the City and County of Denver, construction noise is typically allowed Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Approved working hours and noise ordinance requirements vary by location and jurisdiction.

Typically, construction work is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To minimize impacts to businesses and commuters, some work may need to be performed at night or on a weekend. 

At times, crews will need to work in front of your property, which may include work in the driveway. If you are concerned about access to your driveway at any time during the project, please speak with our on-site construction crew. They are happy to accommodate access needs whenever possible.

As construction nears, “No Parking” signs will be posted in the work area so you can prepare. These may be adjusted or moved as construction progresses. Vehicles left in the no-parking zones may be towed. Please check periodically for current parking restrictions.

No, Denver Water does not provide parking permits or passes for people to park in a “No Parking” zone. 

Flushing, or running water through your open faucets for at least 30 minutes, after your service line is replaced is important because it helps prevent:  

• Exposure to lead and other particles that may have been dislodged into household plumbing as part of the service line replacement.

• Changes in water pressure.

• Discolored water. 

• Clogged fixtures. 

• Sputtering faucets, irregular water flow and vibrating pipes caused by trapped air. 

• Hydraulic shock, or a “water hammer,” which is a pressure surge or shockwave that occurs when water is forced to change direction or stop abruptly. This can damage plumbing. 

Watch our video  for step-by-step instructions to flush your internal plumbing.

Please contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Project-specific contact information may be provided during in-home visits or via additional communications.

Crews will leave a notification on the front door or gate of your property with the date and time of a planned water outage at least 24 hours in advance of the water shut-off. Lead service line replacements are scheduled with each individual property to allow adequate time to prepare. While unlikely, if an emergency pipe break occurs, crews will need to turn off water before they are able to notify impacted properties.

Denver Water uses employees and contractors for our projects. To see who is working in your area, visit our construction map or review the list of contractors working on the Lead Reduction Program. 

Before we dig, Denver Water is required by law to locate and mark utilities. Different colors of paint identify different utility lines. You will notice these in your neighborhood before construction begins, and it will be refreshed throughout the project. Once construction is complete, these markings will fade and disappear over time.

Project duration varies and will be confirmed in the notifications you receive. If your lead service line is being replaced, you should plan for up to eight hours of work, and someone over the age of 18 must be present the entire time.

Denver Water does its best to provide adequate notice before a project begins. Permit requirements, weather or other variables may cause changes or delays. Unplanned or emergency work always takes priority and advance notice about changes to the project schedule may not be possible.

Hydrants may be installed or relocated for a variety of reasons, including: 

• Requests or requirements from local fire departments to improve area fire protection. 

• Easement restrictions.  

• Accessibility requirements.  

• Proximity to other utilities (particularly electrical poles or streetlights).  

• Landscaping interference (such as retaining walls) that limits hydrant operations. 

Construction involving lead service line replacements usually requires excavation in the public right-of-way, which can include the tree lawn, or the area between the curb and sidewalk. Denver Water works closely with Denver’s Office of the City Forester, and guidelines are in place for lead service line replacements, including identifying any possible conflicts with trees in the public right-of-way and reviewing trees in question with the Office of the City Forester prior to construction. Crews follow the office’s guidelines and protocols during construction and consult with the office as needed throughout the process.  

Denver Water also works to avoid impacts to trees located on private property.

The location of trees in the public right-of-way varies throughout Denver Water’s service area. The area trees may be located in the public right-of-way could be known as the tree lawn, or the area between the curb and sidewalk in front of a property. Not every area has a tree lawn, and trees may exist within the public right-of-way, but still be located on an individual property. 

For more information on the public right-of way, please visit City and County of Denver Right of Way Services.