With Warm Days, Water Violators Springing Up

AURORA, Colo. -- These spring-like temperatures are causing some people to break the rules and water their lawn or wash their cars, despite the water ban.

COLORADO'S DROUGHT Current Water Restrictions Reducing Water Use Items You Can Install To Save Water Your Water Use At Home Homemade 'Lawn Tonic' RESOURCES Water Saving Tips Gardening During Drought Xeriscape FAQs Properly Installing Sod Drought Conditions State Drought Info Adjusting Water Sprinklers Colorado Snowpack Summary Colorado Reservoir Storage Status Drought FAQs Western Water Supply Forecasts U.S. Drought Monitor

Aurora Water said they they've seen a spike in watering violations. Over the weekend, Aurora Water received more than 50 complaints because people were washing their cars or watering their lawns.

Doing both is banned in Aurora, a city where reservoirs are down to just 26 percent of capacity because of the drought.

"The violations this weekend are unfortunate. Violators receive a warning and then fines on subsequent violations, but the fact is once the water is out of the reservoir, it's gone," Aurora Water spokesman Dan Mikesell said.

Right now water wasters receive one warning, then are charged $100. Fines are upped to $250 and $500 for subsequent violations.

Later this month, the Aurora City Council will consider raising the fines to start at $250 instead of $100. Commercial and irrigation water customers would be subject to much greater charges -- up to $8,000 for a third-time violation. The City Council will finalize their decision on March 24 and the fines would be effective May 3.

Despite the snow the state received a few weeks back, this week's warm weather and Chinook winds are causing melting above Aurora's Spinney Mountain Reservoir, highly unusual this time of year, Aurora Water said.

And the weather pattern looks exactly like it did last March and April when Aurora water customers spiked their water use to more than 80 million gallons of water a day, normally a level seen only on the hottest summer days, Aurora Water said.