One of the few remaining metro-area suburbs that still had voluntary watering restrictions in light of the state's record drought is now toughening up its water policy.

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The Thornton City Council voted Tuesday night to go with mandatory restrictions beginning Sept. 1. Now, only Parker and a few mountains towns are still on voluntary as opposed to mandatory restrictions, 7NEWS reported.

Thornton said voluntary efforts to cut back water use have been effective, but the worsening drought and requests from the state make it necessary for the city to join many other cities in adopting mandatory restrictions.

The city's goal is to reduce overall water use by 20 percent through the remainder of the irrigation season.

Thornton will follow the circle-diamond-square watering schedule. Watering lawns and gardens will be limited to a maximum of three hours each watering day.

Hand-watering of trees, shrubs, flower and vegetable gardens can occur on any day. Using water to clean sidewalks, driveways and patios is not allowed.

Cars can be washed at home only on your watering day, and then only with a bucket or hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle. Fines for violations range from $50 to $500.

Westminster Tightens Water Restrictions

Because mandatory conservation efforts are falling short of Westminster's target, the city announced Wednesday that it will implement stricter watering restrictions in September and ban all lawn watering in October.

Starting Sept. 10, Sunday will be eliminated as a watering day on the city's circle-diamond-square calendar, so if your watering day falls on a Sunday, you will need to skip watering and wait until your next scheduled day.

Watering time will also be cut back from a maximum of three to two hours, and watering is allowed only from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The-two hour watering time is further restricted to a maximum of 10 minutes watering time per zone or area, the city said.

Commercial and residential users with large lots may exceed the two-hour watering maximum by permit only, but cannot exceed 10 minutes of watering per zone or area. Car washing at home will not be allowed.

Fines for violations will likely be increased to $100 for a second offense, $300 for a third offense and $500 for a fourth offense, the city council said. Westminster may also consider heavier fines for commercial violators.

Effective Oct. 1, all lawn watering in the city will be prohibited. Trees and shrubs can still be watered by hand or by drip irrigation.

No sod or seed can be planted in Westminster until water supply conditions improve.