AURORA, Colo. -- Hundreds of thousands of people living in the metro area will have to abide by mandatory water restrictions next month.

Aurora's city council voted unanimously Monday night to accept stage two drought restrictions, which means residents will be forced to limit lawn watering and pay higher surcharges for excessive use of water.

The restrictions are similar to last year's.

"Our customers last year conserved 30 percent of what they had in past years. If they do that again this year, they won't see the huge water bills. If you decide that you are going to pay for a really green lawn, then you will pay," said Melissa Elliott with the Aurora Water Department.

Aurora's reservoirs are averaging just about 40 percent of capacity. The city receives 90 percent of its water from snowmelt but it's been a very dry winter, especially in the South Platte River, Arkansas and Colorado River basins, where Aurora receives its snowmelt.

The city has already decided to lease more than 18,000 acre feet of water to help ease the effects of drought.

Because of the severe drought designation, starting May 1, lawn watering will be limited to twice a week. With surcharges, the typical water bill is expected to go up $7 to $8 per month if residents use about the same amount of water that they did last year.

Even numbered homes can water Sunday and Thursday. Odd-numbered homes can water Wednesday and Saturday. Businesses and homeowner's common areas can be watered Tuesday and Friday. No watering will be allowed on Mondays.

No one can water their lawns from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no time limit on watering, but water must not run off landscaping, officials said. Customers may hand-water trees, shrubs, vegetable and flower gardens on any day, and wash their cars at any time but only if they use a shut-off nozzle and bucket.

Installing new lawns will require a lawn permit.

Residents are encouraged to report water restriction violations, by calling (303) 739-7195 or visiting Aurorawater.org.

Colorado is entering its fifth year of drought. Mandatory water restrictions have been in effect in Aurora since May 2002.

Denver Water is also expected to announce its summer watering restrictions soon. The Wednesday decision affects more than 1 million water customers, including those living in Arvada, Broomfield, Littleton, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and dozens of small water districts.

Other communities across the state are implementing similar restrictions. On Monday night in Brush, the city council declared stage one drought restrictions. Brush residents will be allowed to water three times a week, only before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. They'll also pay surcharges to use more than 5,000 gallons a month.