Colorado Water Restrictions
As our dry weather continues, many water districts are considering water restrictions. We strongly believe in water conservation (see the information below about minimizing water loss in your water feature). We also want you to be aware that ecosystem ponds have a very positive impact on the environment! Ponds take less water to maintain than a similar area planted in grass, they are a sanctuary for wildlife and pollinators that are finding fewer & fewer places to obtain needed water, and they help to cool the landscape around them. We are monitoring major water districts and will post information here as it becomes available. If you have updates you think should be included here, please let us know by calling 303.744.3505 or email us at info@truepump.com.
Denver Water announced on March 25 that they are implementing Stage 1 restrictions. What does that mean for your water feature? The Denver Water web site says for lined ponds there should be “No waste of water.” For fountains and waterfalls “Customers are highly encouraged to not operate any existing outdoor fountain or waterfall that sprays water into the air.” So for those of you who are served by Denver Water, most of your water features will not be affected by this restriction. For a complete list of the Denver Water restrictions click HERE.
Two of the largest water providers in the state, Colorado Springs Utilities and the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, currently just have voluntary restrictions in place. The City of Boulder is currently on a Drought Watch.
The City of Aurora announced they are implementing Stage 1 Water Restrictions as of April 7, 2026. In Stage 1, “Decorative water features are not permitted.” It is our belief that ecosystem ponds should fall under the same restrictions as swimming pools, which are “topping off pools that are already filled is allowed. We have had discussions with Aurora officials on the benefits and necessity of allowing ponds to be topped off. Check back for more details.
The Associate Landscape Contractors of Colorado recently published a summary list of links to many of the largest water providers in the state. Click HERE to see the ALCC list.
Updated April 20, 2026
Ways to Minimize Water Loss from a Water Feature
Water feature owners need to be conscious of water conservation and work to minimize the impact of evaporation. How can you ensure you are doing your part to conserve water?
- Inspect the pond and stream closely to be certain that any water loss is due to evaporation and not to leaks or poor pond construction.
- Minimize the amount of pond surface area exposed to the air by planting heavily with lilys and other water plants.
- Design waterfalls properly. Multiple smaller falls will have less evaporation than one very large fall. Waterfalls that fall into a deep pool will lose water less quickly than waterfalls that splash down and across rocks below.
- Create a wind break around the pond to reduce the effects of the wind on evaporation.
- If you have a decorative water feature you might consider putting it on a timer so it only runs when you are outside to enjoy it. (Ecosystem ponds need to run continuously to maintain the biological filtration).