The city of Fort Lupton is considering watering restrictions this summer.

Public Works Director Roy Vestal made the announcement during a City Council study session on April 26. Council did not reach a decision because of the format of the meeting. Council is expected to take up the matter during the May 3 meeting.

Vestal outlined the case for the restrictions that would be in effect from June to the end of August.  If approved, there would be no outside watering during the hottest part of the day (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) since the water evaporates. There would be exceptions for non-potable irrigation, and newly planted lawns — either new sod or seed — can receive a three-week waiver per address  per calendar year. Waivers would be valid from June 1 to Aug. 31 and would be available at City Hall. Waiver approvals would have to be displayed in a window that faces the street.

Commercial car washes would also be exempt. Vestal also discouraged car-washing, though the proposal allows for car-washing at residences as long as a bucket or hand-held hose attached to a shut-off nozzle is in use. 

"The watering restrictions are related to the ongoing drought conditions in the state and our area," Vestal said by email. "The restrictions are part of our water conservation plan and are intended to conserve our water resources.  The new construction is not putting any additional pressure on our water supply.  The city owns enough shares of CBT (the federal water diversion project that takes water from the West Slope and funnels it to the Big Thompson River and eventually to the Front Range) to support a doubling of our population."

The official measuring station at Denver International Airport has recorded 0.01 of an inch of precipitation this month. If that holds, this month will become the driest April in Denver's recorded history. The closest weather station to Fort Lupton, Lochbuie Elementary School according to the WeatherBug app, has recorded 0.11 of an inch of precipitation this month.