Water Conservation

Overview

Helping our customers use water wisely through programs, rebates, planning and education.

Current water shortage action level: Water Shortage Watch

Current Water Status and Restrictions

Current water shortage action level: Water Shortage Watch

Starting May 1, Fort Collins Utilities water customers are in a Water Shortage Watch. This is due to the ongoing drought in Larimer County and historically low snowpack.

What is a Water Shortage Watch?

A Water Shortage Watch is a voluntary action level declared by the Fort Collins City Manager that signals the higher potential for water restrictions if conditions worsen or customer demand goes above projections. A watch does not include rate increases or citations.

By voluntarily reducing your water use, you can actively help lower the chance of mandatory restrictions. Check out recommended actions in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

The City will continue to monitor supplies throughout the summer and inform customers if circumstances change. We will post updates on this website should things change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do to reduce my water use?

There are a variety of ways to reduce your use. The list below is pulled from the WSAP Action Summary Table(PDF, 2MB).

Landscaping Water Use

Number of Lawn Watering Days per Week

Limit to two days per week.

Non-Watering Hours

No watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Lawn Watering Amount

Target: 0.62 gallons per square foot or 1 inch per week.

Trees

Limit watering by sprinkler to two days per week and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and by hand, drip system or deep root fork or needle at any time.

Food Production

Limit watering by sprinkler to two days per week and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and by hand or by drip system at any time.

Other Landscapes

Limit watering by sprinkler to two days per week and not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and by hand or by drip system at any time.

Sprinkler System Maintenance

Minimize test run times per zone.

Non-Landscape Water Use

Vehicle Washing

If your car is dirty, use a commercial car wash that features reclaimed or recycled water, which reduces water waste and runoff.

City of Fort Collins Fleet Vehicle Washing

As needed.

Dealership Vehicle Washing

As needed.

Spraying Impervious Surfaces

Whenever possible deploy dry methods first.

Dust Control Measures for Dust Generating Activities

Whenever possible use alternative (nonwater) dust control measures, as defined by the City’s Dust Prevention and Control Manual.

Street Sweeping

No more than normal operating schedule and essential street sweeping. Whenever possible, deploy dry methods first.

Hydrant Flushing and Testing

No more than normal operating schedule and critical situations.

Water Features

Turn off water features.

Splash Parks

Operate system to maximize water reuse while maintaining water quality.

Community Outdoor Swimming Pools

Use pool cover and backwash system if exists.

Individual Outdoor Swimming Pools and Recreational Water Toys

Limit use by setting a spigot timer on the hose.

Misting Devices

Limit use to only when temperatures are extreme and misted areas are occupied.

I live in the city, but I have a different water provider. Do I need to reduce my use?

In Fort Collins, it's always important to use water wisely. Different water providers may ask their customers to take different actions to save water. We recommend checking with your provider for specifics.

Map of Fort Collins Water Providers

I use well or raw water at my home or business. Am I exempt from the watch?

If you use well or raw water to irrigate grass, you are exempt from the water watch and restrictions. However, we strongly encourage you to set an example for the community, avoid negative perceptions and continue to conserve raw and well water sources.

Why are parks and golf courses getting watered?

High-use areas like parks, sports fields, golf courses and schools might have different watering needs. Customers who use well or raw water to irrigate grass are exempt from the water watch and restrictions.

The City has taken steps to reduce treated water use at parks and golf courses, as well as in its facilities. The City uses mostly untreated (raw) water on parks, golf courses and other outdoor lawn areas.

I have a business. What can I do?

We understand it can be hard for businesses to lower their use without sacrificing the bottom line. Also, many businesses in Fort Collins are already very efficient! However, by using less water at your workplace, you can save on your treated water bill and actively help lower the chance of mandatory restrictions if conditions get worse.

Voluntary actions that don’t directly impact revenue:

Limit lawn watering to two days a week.
Don’t water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Prioritize your outdoor irrigation for trees and shrubs, which provide many benefits like shade, and can take much longer than turf to regrow if damaged during drought. Per City Land Use Code Division 5.10, more than 50% of a landscape area must be covered with living plants at maturity (not counting trees), so it’s important to avoid losing landscape coverage.
Ensure full loads when running industrial dishwashers and clothes washers.
Limit fleet vehicle washing to as needed.
When possible, use dry cleaning methods like sweeping instead of spraying water.
Share water-saving actions with your staff.

If you would like support getting your message out to your employees or customers, please contact UBRT@fortcollins.gov.

How do I schedule my irrigation controller?

You should schedule each zone in your irrigation system based on the type of sprinkler head. The “cycle and soak” irrigation method allows water to absorb into the soil to nurture plants, while avoiding water waste from overwatering and runoff. To perform cycle and soak, split runtimes for each irrigation zone and water in shorter intervals, giving soil time to absorb water between irrigation intervals.

General Water Shortage Watch irrigation guidelines for lawns:

Two days per week maximum
One inch per week maximum total volume
Set controllers to run between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.
Use “cycle and soak” watering method, detailed below

(to view the entire table, use the arrows to scroll)

Irrigation Type	Cool Season Turf (bluegrass, fescue)	Warm Season Grasses (buffalograss, blue gramma, bermudagrass)	Application Rate Notes
Spray	Two days per week 10 minutes of watering per cycle Two cycles per irrigation zone, 1 to 2 hours of rest between cycles to let water absorb Aim to apply no more than one inch total per week	Two to four days per month 10 minutes of watering per cycle Two cycles per irrigation zone, 1 to 2 hours of rest between cycles to let water absorb Aim to apply no more than one-half inch total per week	Running spray heads for a 10-minute cycle applies about one-quarter inch of water to your plants
Rotor and Rotary	Two days per week 30 minutes of watering per cycle Two cycles per irrigation zone, 1 to 2 hours of rest between cycles to let water absorb Aim to apply no more than one inch total per week	Two to four days per month 30 minutes of watering per cycle Two cycles per irrigation zone, 1 to 2 hours of rest between cycles to let water absorb Aim to apply no more than one-half inch total per week	Running heads for a 30-minute cycle applies about one-quarter inch of water to your plants

Don’t forget: Trees, shrubs and gardens might need different amounts of water compared to grass. Keep them healthy by watering with drip irrigation or by hose with spray nozzle and shut-off timer.

What will my grass look like when I only water two days per week?

Watering turfgrass two days a week in the spring is enough to maintain a healthy, happy lawn in our climate, especially if you follow the “cycle and soak” method (watering slowly and letting it percolate to grass roots). During the hottest summer months, “embrace the brown”. In the summer, your cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, may look less green and lush than in the spring, or even start to go dormant. When temperatures cool in late summer, continue irrigating two days a week to help lawns rebound, brighten, and recover. If some areas of grass do not make it through the summer, September is a good time to overseed. Refer to CSU Extension for research-based instructions for rejuvenating or renovating a lawn.

What else can I do to help my grass look good?

Use “cycle and soak” irrigation to apply water slowly and give it time to percolate down to roots
Top dress (add a thin layer of nutrient-rich compost) to your lawn
Aerate and fertilize in the spring or fall (but only if there is natural or irrigation water available)
Limit foot traffic from people and pets if lawns look stressed

Water Restriction Levels

The Water Shortage Action Plan (WSAP) defines action levels and lays out strategies and restrictions in the event of a water shortage. Utilities communicates with customers when a voluntary watch or mandatory restrictions are in place. These actions only apply to Fort Collins Utilities water customers.

Voluntary Watch: This action level takes place when there is the potential for a shortage. Through voluntary water reductions and raising awareness, a watch may avoid or defer mandatory restrictions.
Mandatory: This action level restricts outdoor water uses that are subject to monitoring and enforcement. There are three levels (I-III) with increasingly restrictive requirements.
Alternative: This action level (IV) could be enacted when other levels are not adequate or appropriate to address a unique or extreme water shortage scenario.
Emergency: The City Manager can order water restrictions to protect the public if an event requires people to stop using water immediately.

The WSAP establishes conditions and restrictions to manage our water supply in the event of projected water shortages as established by City Code. If supplies are less than expected demand, or we experience an emergency, we may need water restrictions to manage the water we have. For a printable copy of the WSAP that includes water shortage details, click the button below.

WSAP(PDF, 2MB)

What is a Water Shortage?

A water shortage happens when the projected water supply is less than the expected water demand, while also keeping a set amount of water reserves in storage. The current water status is posted above.

The following events, or combination of events, are examples that could trigger a water shortage:

Drought
Contamination or other water quality issues
Treatment plant offline or another infrastructure issue
Federal or state actions that limit water supplies

Helpful Information During Restrictions

This information is posted for reference in the event Utilities moves into mandatory restrictions.

Exception Permits

Permits are available to allow exceptions to assigned watering days and frequencies. Permits may be issued for individuals or businesses unable to comply with watering restrictions for the following conditions:

New seed and sod establishment
Medical/physical hardship
Religious objection
Large (four acres or greater) and City parks inactive areas that are too large to water within the specified time
City and Community active areas like athletic fields
Raw or well water use: restrictions apply only to treated water, but we ask that residents irrigating with raw or well water register and post signage if they choose not to follow restrictions.

Permits applications are available when a water shortage is declared.

Enforcement

Enforcement, including fines, and permitting functions for Utilities’ water restrictions are designed to ensure compliance, as well as City Code Section 26-166 (prohibition of waste).Enforcement of restrictions, together with ongoing public education and outreach, are needed to achieve the goal of decreasing water demand, thus minimizing the need for greater water restriction action levels.

Rate Adjustments

Water Shortage Action Levels II and III include temporary rate increases to offset the reduction in revenue due to less water use and support Utilities continued ability to provide essential services. Rate adjustments could be applied under Action Level IV if necessary and approved by City Council. Participants in the Income Qualified Assistance Program are excluded from water shortage rate adjustments.

Questions?

Contact savewater@fortcollins.gov, 970-221-6719 or V/TDD 711.

Report Water Waste

Notify us of leaks, flowing or pooling water online or by phone.

Report online

Call: 970-416-2881

Please include the following information:

Property address OR cross streets with a directional location (e.g. northwest corner of Water Street and Flood Way)
What you witnessed (see below)
Date and time of day
Your contact information if you'd like a follow-up contact

Notify us when you see:

Pooling or steady flow of water into storm drainage facilities, or onto streets, sidewalks, driveways or other impervious surfaces.
A leak or broken component of an irrigation system or an outdoor plumbing fixture.
Water being used on an impervious surface, vehicle or other structure or object by a hose without a nozzle with an automatic shut off capability (i.e. water is only applied if the user is squeezing the handle).

City Code Language

City of Fort Collins Wasting Water Code - Sec. 26-166 Waste of water prohibited.

It is unlawful to waste water obtained from the City in any manner. No person shall cause the waste of water, or knowingly fail to prevent the waste of water on property owned by, or within the control of, such person. See the full ordinance here.

Water Conservation in Our Community

Fort Collins Utilities’ Water Conservation Team manages and protects our community’s water. From tips and rebates to long-term City planning, we design programs to help you save water, prepare for drought, and support a sustainable future.

View the Utilities water service map to see if you qualify for our programming
Factors That Influence Water Use
- Weather and climate: Outdoor water use is especially influenced by weather, which varies day-to-day and year-to-year in our region. Our region has experienced long-term, gradual increases in average temperature and longer growing seasons, as documented by the Colorado Climate Center’s 2024: Climate Change in Colorado report (third edition). These trends also drive-up water use.
- Conservation: Actions such as taking shorter showers, monitoring your outdoor water use, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth and other behaviors add up and can make a collective difference.
- Efficient Fixtures/Appliances/Landscapes: Homes and businesses that have water-efficient appliances, fixtures, irrigation, and technologies use less water every time someone flushes, washes, showers, or waters their landscape.
- Leaks: The average household in the US wastes 10,000 gallons of water due to leaks every year, which is about 12% of the total average annual household water use. 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day (EPA).
- Population: More people means more water use. Total residential and commercial water use all increase with a growing population.
- Land Development Patterns and Urban Design: Less dense developments with more landscaped areas require more outdoor water use to maintain. Landscape types that are not regionally adapted or native to our area, such as turf grasses and others, require more water than nature provides.
Water Efficiency Plan
The 2025 Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) outlines our approach to manage treated water use and efficiency amid growing supply and demand pressures in the Water Utilities service area.

By improving how water is used across residential, commercial, and municipal sectors, the WEP helps support long-term water resilience for our system and customers. The plan supports the City’s “One Water” commitment—managing water holistically to promote healthy watersheds, resilient communities, and water equity.
Learn More About the WEP(PDF, 3MB)

2025 Water Conservation Annual Report

Click here to download a PDF copy of the report.(PDF, 177KB)

The document above is provided for printing purposes. For assistance viewing or reading this document, please contact the City's ADA Coordinator via email: ADACoordinator@FortCollins.gov or phone: 970-416-4254.

2025: A Pivotal Year for Water Efficiency

With growing pressures on supply and demand, and with the help of the community, the 2025 Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) was adopted, laying the groundwork for long-term, system-wide resilience. The new WEP focuses on two new goals: Reduce water demand 4% by 2040 and improve efficiency and resilience on public landscapes. The new plan takes the place of the 2015 WEP.

Fort Collins Utilities serves treated water to about 80% of the population and 60% of the land area within City limits. The Utilities service area is comprised of:

57,000 households
2,300 commercial accounts, including businesses, schools, churches, industrial, and more
589 Irrigation-only accounts, many of which serve HOAs

Water Use by Customer Type

In 2025, Water Conservation programs and services resulted in approximately 61 million gallons of residential water savings and 108 million gallons of commercial water savings – totaling 169 million gallons or about 2.6% of the City’s total treated water for the year.

Residential water conservation programs saved 61 million gallons and commercial programs saved 108.4 million gallons.

Total water savings in 2025 are equivalent to the average annual water use of 2,456 homes in Fort Collins.

A Decade of Progress: Wrapping up the 2015 Water Efficiency Plan

The 2015 WEP set the foundation for more than a decade of measurable progress. Even as service area population has increased since 2015, Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) has decreased steadily. From demand reduction to program participation, the last 11 years show how sustained efficiency efforts create lasting system change.

Gallons per Capita per Day

Since 2015...

1,698,225 Square feet of high-water grass converted to xeriscape
88,722 Leak Alert and Saving Water Hotline communications
4,090 Sprinkler system evaluations completed
3,264 Toilets replaced or rebated
2,658 Irrigation plans reviewed
654 Xeriscape Incentive Program projects completed

Since 2015, over 1.7 billion gallons of total water savings can be attributed to Water Conservation programs.

Water Conservation Programs Savings

Contact Us

Email

savewater@fortcollins.gov