Faucets won't go dry in homes, but some city leaders say lawns all over Aurora could look more like scorched earth this summer if snowpack levels in the mountains don't improve.And some city leaders say a ban on new homes might not be far off. "Our water supply levels are at 29 percent now, and we expect to reach 20 percent by late April, just before the spring runoff begins to fill the reservoirs again," Deputy City Manager Frank Ragan said. "Unfortunately the snowpack in the river basins where Aurora and much of the Front Range draws its water from is well below average. We are actually worse off today than we were a year ago, despite conserving 25 percent of our water supplies last year, and that means it will likely be a very dry summer."

Faucets won't go dry in homes, but some city leaders say lawns all over Aurora could look more like scorched earth this summer if snowpack levels in the mountains don't improve.

And some city leaders say a ban on new homes might not be far off.


"Our water supply levels are at 29 percent now, and we expect to reach 20 percent by late April, just before the spring runoff begins to fill the reservoirs again," Deputy City Manager Frank Ragan said. "Unfortunately the snowpack in the river basins where Aurora and much of the Front Range draws its water from is well below average. We are actually worse off today than we were a year ago, despite conserving 25 percent of our water supplies last year, and that means it will likely be a very dry summer."


Letting the public know now is important to getting conservation efforts off the ground, he said.


"At best case, we are looking at allowing some outdoor irrigation of lawns, but it would likely be restricted to a less frequent basis than last year," Ragan said. In 2002, Aurora water customers were placed on a mandatory every third day watering schedule. "At worst it is possible we will have to limit outdoor watering to deep root watering of trees and shrubs.


"However, until final numbers on snowpack are in, those decisions cannot be made. We want to let people know as early as we can that mandatory restrictions will be place in 2003. If you are planning for landscaping projects, you may need to wait."


Aside from getting the word out early, city staffers are already working on a plan, Utilities Department spokeswoman Melissa Elliot said.


"City staff is working on several plans that will be presented to the Aurora City Council for final decisions in April once the total amount of snowpack is known and the amount of runoff to storage facilities can be accurately forecast," she said. "What is known now is that the outdoor irrigation cutoff that was put in place in Aurora on Oct. 15 will extend to May 1."


City council members discussed the situation at their Jan. 13 study session meeting, where the possibility of a moratorium on connecting taps for new development was broached.


"If we don't get good snowfall, we're in trouble," Councilman John Paroske said. "I think the major issue is do we stop development in Aurora? We'll see what happens there. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there's a moratorium on taps if we don't get good snowpack in the spring months, but we'll see."


Paroske said he is sure that there will be a total prohibition on new lawns this summer and that a total ban on outdoor watering isn't out of the question.


"If I was going to guess, we're going to go to two days a week, but if we don't get the snow, one of the next steps down the line is a total ban on outdoor water use. We're at dangerous levels."


The cutoff prohibits all outdoor irrigation with the exception of deep-root watering of trees and shrubs and irrigation of municipal parks and golf courses with non-potable water. Washing vehicles at home is also prohibited and the installation of new lawns is prohibited until May 1.


"The city may continue to prohibit new lawns after May 1 if sufficient water supplies cannot be assured," Elliot said. "City planners are working on erosion control methods and ways to handle certificates of occupancy for development that is waiting for landscaping."

Expansion plan gets bond backing


Despite the gloominess of this summer's water supply outlook for Aurora this summer, city finance officials said rating agencies in New York have given an initial thumbs up for funding of a major upgrade to the city's water system.


City Debt and Financing Administrator Tom Sather told city council members Jan. 13 that the trip to New York was a success.


"We went to New York last week to give the presentation to the rating agencies and the initial reaction was good," Sather said.


The plan is a "first of its kind initiative for the city," Sather said. Bonds for the $100 million program will be backed by the income of the city's water fund minus costs for operations and maintenance.


"Previous water bonds were backed by a general obligation pledge of the city and by water system revenues," a memo from Sather says.


The program includes upgrades to the Wemlinger Water Tretment Plant, improvements and additions to the city's distribution system and $41 million for acquiring the city of Thornton's South Park water rights that yield an average of 7,146 acre feet per year.


Two ordinances that are part of the financing process were reviewed and given a green light to go to the formal agenda by the city council. One, a general bond ordinance, provides the legal framework for the current program as well as future water revenue "borrowings" needed to fund the capital program. The second ordinance provides terms and conditions for a specific borrowing to be completed later this year.


Both ordinances will be reviewed during a public hearing at an upcoming city council meeting.