LAFAYETTE, Colo. -- The city of Lafayette passed a radical ordinance Tuesday night limiting homeowners to lawn watering only once a week.

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The new restriction is effective immediately, 7NEWS reported.

The ordinance will also limit that watering to one-half inch precipitation equivalent each time.

City leaders said they need to cut water usage by 75 percent because of a record low spring runoff.

"Our snowpack in the Boulder Water Creek shed basin is 15 percent of normal. That's what's causing this. It's not growth, it's not the lack of planning. It's mother nature not giving us enough snowpack," Public Works Director Doug Short said.

Under the ordinance, people could be fined up to $500 for watering too much.

How Much To Water?

So how much water does your lawn need every week?

For a lush green lawn you need to water 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 an inch per week, according to 7NEWS gardening expert John Cretti.

Cretti said you can also train your lawn to adjust to lower water levels during drought times, but just 1/2 inch a week will leave your grass looking brownish green and it also won't grow as fast.