Aurora, Get Ready For Mandatory Water Restrictions

The city of Aurora says residents should prepare for another summer of mandatory water restrictions.

Aurora officials say snowpack for the Upper South Platte region is 57 percent below average. At the Aurora Reservoir (pictured, left), water and snowpack levels are just at 58 percent.

The city receives 95 percent of its water supply from snowmelt and so far, this winter's snowfall has been rather dismal. Water officials say that if they don't get more snow in the next three months, residents won't be watering their lawns very much this summer.

"If there is a way to organize a miracle storm like last year, it's probably going to take two of those to get us back to any kind of normal operations this year," said Peter Binney with Aurora Water.

As for the exact restrictions, the city will most likely implement a watering schedule similar to last summer, where residents can water on just two days a week.

The final decision on whether or not to implement water restrictions will be made on April 26.