1. Sign up for a free Slow the Flow sprinkler audit. It is one of the best things you can do to make our community more resilient against drought. The free Slow the Flow irrigation inspection includes a visit by a sprinkler pro to make sure you're giving your landscape what it needs, but not more. Slow the Flow is operated by Highlands Ranch Water's partner, Resource Central. Schedule your appointment today.
2. Keep an eye on your water budget. Highlands Ranch Water sets individual water budgets for customers based on their yard size and provides enough water for healthy landscapes. If you went over your budget last summer, consider adjusting your irrigation system to reduce water waste.
3. Reduce waste. Adjust your sprinklers so they're watering your lawn and garden, and not the street or sidewalk.
4. Adjust with the seasons. The water needs for your landscape changes with the weather. Refer to Highlands Ranch Water's Water Wise guide for monthly run times.
5. Take advantage of discounts and rebates. Highlands Ranch Water has several Water Wise incentive programs in place. Sign up today.
6. Adjust your mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn provides shade to the roots and helps retain soil moisture, so your lawn requires less water.
7. Inspect your irrigation system. Check for leaks, broken lines or blockages in the lines. A well-maintained system will save you money, water and time.

How much snow falls in the high country over the winter, and how much water is in the snow, provides Highlands Ranch Water with a clue as to what the district can expect come spring and summer. Highlands Ranch Water’s water resources staff keeps a close eye on snowpack reports all winter long.

In Colorado, snowpack and the resulting snow water equivalent is tracked during winter months because it can assist planning for spring and summer water supply. Snowpack impacts how much streams flow and how much water may be available to water utilities like Highlands Ranch Water.

“Most of our water supply comes from snowpack that melts and makes its way to streams, known as runoff. This runoff flows downstream and is captured in reservoirs. How much we are able to capture is determined by water rights at any given time,” said Swithin Dick, Water Resources Administrator.

Snowpack is the total amount of snow on the ground. Throughout the winter, experts regularly measure the snow water equivalent in the mountain snowpack. Snow water equivalent is the amount of water contained in snow. This translates into the amount of runoff Highlands Ranch Water may be able to capture.

Tracking the amount of water in snow is not as easy as looking at how much snow there is. Twelve inches of snow does not equal 12 inches of water. The amount of water released by snowmelt varies based on how dense the snowpack is. According to the National Weather Service, there can be one inch of water produced for every 10 to 12 inches of snow.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) releases a statewide map displaying Colorado snowpack conditions and snow water equivalent. The map is what is frequently shared by meteorologists on local news stations. The percentage reported represents the current snowpack in each basin compared to the historical average for the same day. Above 100 means snowpack is above-normal; below 100 means snowpack is below normal for that date.

Highlands Ranch Water’s watershed is located in the South Platte River Basin. View the map above for recent snowpack reports from NRCS. NRCS releases a new map daily. To access the most recent Colorado snowpack conditions, visit the NRCS website.

Highlands Ranch Water's Drought Response Plan guides the Board's decisions regarding drought conditions. The plan is designed to maximize available water supplies and reduce water use during times of water shortage caused by drought.

Conservation is always important, no matter the season. It's important to keep an eye on conservation throughout the year and make strides to reduce consumption to help balance the demand during peak summer months.

Reducing water use both inside and outside the home leads to a successful game plan for long-term conservation.

Keys to the game:

• Take a shower instead of a bath. Taking a shower uses about one-third the amount of water compared to a bath.
• Don't use the toilet as a trash can. Discard wipes, dental floss and wrappers in a trash can and keep them out of the toilet.
• Limit showers to five minutes. Every minute you cut off your shower time can save two gallons of water.
• Check for leaks. Fixing leaky faucets or toilets can save up to 20 gallons of water per day.
• Install a high-efficiency shower head. This simple step can save you 2,900 gallons of water annually.

Water supply is not strictly a matter of how much precipitation falls. There are a lot of things that come together to impact the amount of water in our storage reservoirs.

Most of our water comes from snowmelt that runs downstream into storage reservoirs. After months of statewide drought conditions, dry mountain soils absorb much of the runoff before water can reach reservoirs. On sunny days, more moisture is lost to sublimation and evaporation, compared to runoff that occurs on cloudy days.

The runoff that flows from the mountains is then diverted to storage reservoirs for a number of different water providers in Colorado. Water rights dictate who gets how much water and when.

A combination of dry mountain soils, sublimation and water rights impact the amount of water in Highlands Ranch Water's storage reservoirs and directly impacts drought conditions for our service area.

Customers who are in violation of our Rules and Regulations may be subject to a fine. Example of violations may include: 

• Watering during restricted hours
• Broken irrigation system
• Open hose
• Excessive water waste
• Leaks

Fines are added to the water bill.

Residential Customer Violations

Commercial Customer Violations