Thanks to a wet spring and the water conservation efforts of its residents, the city of Aurora is easing its water restrictions.

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The city council voted Thursday night to loosen its restrictions. Beginning July 1, Aurora water customers can water for two hours instead of one hour twice a week on their allotted watering days, for a total of four hours per home per week.

And beginning Sept. 1, customers can plant sod or seed with a lawn permit. The permit, available July 1, allows residents to water new sod or seed for 20 consecutive days to allow it to establish a root system. However, the landowner must post a sign designating that the property has received a lawn permit. Since the city banned the planting of sod and seed last September, there are more than 3,000 homes and businesses that have had to rely on erosion control blankets rather than lawns, city spokeswoman Melissa Elliott said.

Also, homeowners can now use 22,000 gallons of water instead of 14,000 gallons, before surcharges go into effect.

Aurora water reservoir levels are currently at 51 percent system-wide and are expected to peak at 60 percent by mid-July, Elliott said.

Water use in Aurora to date in 2003 has been 35 percent less than in 2002. The wet spring, water restrictions, surcharges and water conservation education have been credited for reducing usage.

Aurora joins the growing list of cities that have eased water restrictions.

Recently, Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Englewood, Longmont, Parker, Thornton, Westminster, Superior, and Federal Heights, have also loosened or lifted their restrictions.

Arvada Eases Watering Restrictions

The Arvada City Council voted Friday to stop charging residents extra for heavy water use, making Arvada the latest Front Range city to ease restrictions prompted by drought.

A combination of high precipitation, use restrictions and conservation put water use in Arvada about 30 percent below usage levels in 2001, said utilities manager Jim Sullivan.

He said the council's vote included a provision to refund about $25,000 collected since the surcharge went into effect April 1.