Aurora tightens drought enforcement as warnings and fines rise; large users face 20% cut

Aurora water department staff told the Water Policy Committee on June 17 that automated metering intelligence (AMI) has driven a surge in enforcement activity as the city manages ongoing drought conditions. "As of June 2nd we had given out 1,334 warnings. We're currently over 1,700," said Tim, a water department staff member, reporting that fines have risen from 72 to 101 as of the meeting.

The department traced measurable savings to the city's two-day watering restriction: staff said customers who water three to four days a week used about 41% more irrigation water than those who followed the two-day rule, and customers watering five to seven days used roughly 114% more. "So the two days per week does work," Tim said.

Why it matters: staff warned that the increased warnings and fines reflect active enforcement using AMI data and that most customers correct issues after receiving a notice. The department asked the council to expect more outreach and proposed follow-up where needed.

Car washes and certification: staff said car washes are not being shut down in stage one but must enroll in a certification program to avoid restrictions in stage two. "If they're not certified, they would be shut off in stage two," Tim said, adding that the department has posted a certification application in the customer portal and would share the standard certification letter with councilmembers who asked for it. Staff indicated a target window for enrollment before stage two (roughly by August).

Large users and Niagara bottling: the department said it is requiring large consumptive accounts — including golf courses, parks, and major industrial users — to reduce consumption by 20% this year. "For any huge customer that consumes a ton of water, we're requiring that they reduce their use by 20% this year," the staff member said.

The city named a local bottling facility (referred to in discussions as Niagara) as the single largest non-irrigation customer, using about 17.5 million gallons per month (about 200 million gallons last year). Staff said the company has disputed the department's authority to impose a reduction and has raised economic-impact concerns, including a claim of about 80 jobs at risk; staff said past company claims of job counts have sometimes been far higher than subsequent documentation showed. "We asked for details on the jobs," the staff member said.

Officials said the department offered alternatives — turf conversions, shared city facility uses, and other efficiency measures — and invited the company to negotiate operational changes to avoid harsh cuts. Staff said the company had the option to meet with water department staff and city leaders; the mayor planned to convene a meeting with the company and department to discuss options.

Enforcement, surcharges and stage-two consequences: staff said that in stage two of the city's drought restrictions the department will impose stricter limits, including possible production cuts for large industrial users. "If we get to stage two, then they get restricted," Tim said. The meeting record shows the department treats large consumptive customers as subject to surcharges and mandatory reductions under the city's drought-control rules.

Next steps: staff will send council a standard letter explaining the department's position, provide the requested certification letter for car washes, and schedule follow-ups and an opportunity for the bottling plant to present details about jobs and mitigation options. The committee did not take a formal vote at the meeting on new rules; staff characterized the arrangements as ongoing negotiations and implementation of existing authority.

Ending: the department advised that continued customer cooperation is essential to avoid escalating restrictions later in the season.