Thornton Water decorative text with three water droplets

September 2026

News and Updates decorative text on green background

Thank You for Saving Water, Thornton!

Amid record-low snowpack, dry summer weather, and low streamflows statewide, Thornton water customers showed up in a big way to save water. As of August, customers have used 10% less water compared to 2025, meeting the city’s goal and conserving an estimated 537 million gallons of water. By limiting outdoor lawn watering to only two days per week, promptly fixing leaks, and making a conscious effort to reduce water usage, our customers, in all sectors, came together to preserve Thornton’s precious water supply. Thanks to this reduction in customer water demand, Thornton’s storage reservoirs are at 72% full.

As we move into winter, we will keep monitoring drought conditions carefully and track water reservoir levels for next spring and summer. We will base our projections on snowpack levels and customer demand through the rest of the year and into the winter. We are hoping for an above average snow season to help water supplies recover from the drought, but unfortunately, we cannot control the weather. If drought conditions get worse, we may need to move to Stage 2 drought response next spring. For the latest updates, visit our drought blog and the Restrictions and Drought webpage.

An orange water faucet with a teal water droplet coming out, surrounded by text that reads “Thanks to you, Thornton met its goal to reduce water usage by 10% this summer. Together we can weather the drought.”

Opportunity for Businesses to Join Water Savings Efforts During Drought

Thornton Water is partnering with businesses across our water service area to celebrate saving water by finding ways to minimize water waste, promote water savings and decrease overall usage. Partner businesses have agreed to changes such as:

Only serving water by request in restaurants.
Reducing the frequency of washing hotel linens.
Recycling water and optimizing the efficiency of car washes.
Finding and fixing leaks quickly through WaterSmart.
Promoting water conservation efforts citywide.

Interested in promoting water savings at your business? Order window clings, table tents and more here or email us at water@thorntonwater.com for more information!

Water conservation signs reading "Together We Can Weather the Drought" and "Together For Water" posted on a restaurant's glass window.

Request a set of table toppers, fact sheets, or window clings through our order form or by emailing water@thorntonwater.com.

Ask a Landscaper: Fall Yard Care

Cooler weather is on the horizon, and it’s time to start preparing your yard for the change of seasons. To help you get ready, we sat down with a local landscaping expert to learn all the best practices, tips, and tricks to help your plants survive through the fall and winter seasons and return stronger and healthier in the spring. Top tips include:

When and how to fertilize your lawn.
What aeration does and how it can help.
What debris to clear and what to leave.
How to help your landscape recover from the dry summer.
What to do now if you are planning for a water-wise landscape conversion in the spring.

Learn all of this and more in our latest “ask a landscaper” blog post.

Tree dropping yellow leaves onto a grass lawn framed by a pathway of tall ornamental grasses.

Preparing your plants for cool weather can help them survive the winter and thrive next spring.

New! HOA Water-Wise Landscape Conversions with Resource Central

Garden bed with yellow and purple flowers, small green shrubs and grasses, and wood mulch, with a residential street and trees in the background. A small white icon reads “Resource Central.”

The city of Thornton has teamed up with our partner, Resource Central, to assist homeowners’ associations (HOAs) with replacing large areas of turf with alternatives that save water and add beauty to your community’s landscape. For more information and to fill out an application, visit ResourceCentral.org/HOA or call 303-999-3820, ext. 107. Applications are currently being accepted. Spaces are limited, so sign up today!

HOAs can still provide beautiful landscapes for residents and save water by ditching grass for a water-wise garden.

Questions? Give us a call!

Utility Billing: 303-538-7370

Water Quality: 303-255-7770

Water Efficiency Programs: 720-977-6600