DENVER -- No matter how much snow falls this winter, nearly 1 million people living along Colorado's Front Range can expect to pay more for the privilege of turning on the tap in the new year.

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Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins and Lafayette have already approved increased water rates or surcharges for 2003 because of the drought.

And seven cities are studying rate hikes, or have increases pending before their city councils. Those cities include Boulder, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Greeley, Louisville, Pueblo and Thornton.

For others, the weather in 2003 will be the deciding factor.

"If next year we have to go to a total ban on outdoor watering, that would cut our revenues in half," said Kelly DiNatale, Westminster's water resources manager. "Then we would not be able to meet our operating costs."

For cities that have already approved increases, the rates and surcharges vary widely.

Aurora, for example, plans to raise water rates 15 percent beginning Jan. 1, from $2.04 per 1,000 gallons to $2.35.

Fort Collins, on the other hand, will use a different approach known as an inclining rate. Water bills will rise as the rate of usage increases. Conservative water users will see their bills increase by less than 1 percent next year, while heavy water users will pay up to 30.8 percent more.

The rate increases are designed to help communities deal with the financial realities of this year's drought. Water districts and city-owned utilities experience sharp declines in water sales during droughts because less water is available.

The city of Denver projects a $22 million shortfall in water revenues next year. Denver Water will raise rates 3.5 percent on Jan. 1 as part of a previously planned increase unrelated to the drought. But it also plans a drought surcharge, similar to a surcharge now in place designed to reduce usage 30 percent.

Denver Water now charges $1.53 per 1,000 gallons.

Several cities have indicated they plan to buy more water to better cope with future droughts. Many will need millions of dollars to add water to their systems.

"We're looking at rate increase, in part, to provide funds to acquire more water to help during drier periods," said Tom Phare, Louisville's director of public works.