Aurora Water
Aurora City Council moves to cut industrial water use during drought
AURORA | Amid widespread drought, the Aurora City Council is moving forward with changes to landscape requirements for industrial developments to make them more water efficient. At Monday’s study session, council discussed changes to the city’s unified development ordinance to reduce and eliminate requirements for development in industrial zoning to have certain landscaping, such as […]
Colorado extends Aurora Water’s comment deadline for Wild Horse Reservoir permit
This story was first published at the Vail Daily. VAIL | Deep dives into the state permitting process by local water-conservation groups and other proponents of preserving dwindling Western Slope water resources have led to the state of Colorado extending its comment deadline for Aurora Water’s dredge-and-fill application for its proposed Wild Horse Reservoir. “Yes, […]
Niagara Bottling buys water from Greeley to avoid Aurora drought violation
AURORA | In order to meet a city-ordered reduced water allocation due to drought, Aurora’s biggest water user, Niagara Bottling, purchased additional supply from Greeley. Earlier this summer, Aurora Water warned Niagara that the company was on track to exceed its annual water allocation, which had been reduced 20% by drought restrictions. The company never […]
Aurora to ban most outdoor irrigation from October to May, ban some grasses in new lawns
AURORA | Aurora city lawmakers ramped up outdoor watering and lawn restrictions Monday, essentially banning most outdoor irrigation from October to May, this year and going forward. Aurora City Council members unanimously passed measures that essentially bans planting new so-called “cool weather” lawns, such as fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, bans new outdoor water features like […]
Aurora seeks to use unspecified Homestake water rights to fill new Wild Horse Reservoir
This story was first published in the Vail Daily. VAIL | Aurora Water officials this week confirmed that the city hopes to use its existing water rights in the Homestake Creek Valley in Eagle County dating back to the 1950s to fill a proposed new reservoir on the eastern side of the Continental Divide in […]
Aurora Water proposes 3.5% residential rate hike for 2027; 6.5% bump for sewer rates
AURORA | Aurora Water is proposing a 3.5% water rate increase for residential customers in 2027, as well as an across the board increase of 6.5% for sewer and stormwater rates. The proposed increases come as the city is planning for a number of capital project investments and Aurora experiences a prolonged drought. Aurora Water […]
Aurora replacing Great Lawn at Aurora city hall with drought-tolerant ‘Bermudagrass’
AURORA | Aurora is replacing the Great Lawn at the Aurora Municipal Center with drought-tolerant Bermudagrass as part of a citywide effort to reduce water use and improve the sustainability of its parks, city officials said Wednesday. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department, working with contractor Elite Industries, started the conversion this week […]
No movement on Aurora’s Eagle County Whitney Reservoir proposal after six years
This story was first published at the Vail Daily. VAIL | It’s been more than six years since Aurora and Colorado Springs’ proposed Whitney Reservoir concept first surfaced with a raging controversy over test drilling for a dam on U.S. Forest Service land in the Homestake Creek Valley near Red Cliff in southeastern Eagle County. […]
Aurora considers penalties for Niagara Bottling over drought water use
AURORA | City officials are contemplating consequences for its largest water consumer, Niagara Bottling, which has not yet reduced its consumption despite drought restrictions imposed citywide requiring a 20% reduction in use. While the bottling plant has not yet violated the drought restrictions, the facility is on track to use more water than its annual […]
Arapahoe County commissioner to hold water supply community forum in Aurora Aug. 1
AURORA | Arapahoe County Commissioner Rhonda Fields will hold a community forum next month focused on water supply for the region and the state, water conservation and long-term planning. “Water Matters: A Community Conversation,” is slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 1, at the county’s CentrePoint Plaza’s Littleton Room, 14980 E. Alameda Drive […]