Aurora, Colorado, is using smart water meters to enforce drought rules as the city faces severe water shortages. The meters track water use throughout the day. This allows Aurora Water, the city’s municipal utility department, to identify lawns being watered outside the permitted schedule.Under the city’s current Stage 1 drought restrictions, grass can be watered only two days a week and not between 10am and 6pm. A third watering day can therefore stand out in the data and lead to a warning or fine. The approach gives the city a way to monitor thousands of properties without relying entirely on neighbours to report violations. It also shows how water conservation is becoming more closely linked with digital technology, as Aurora tries to reduce outdoor water use while protecting reservoirs that are only about half full during a particularly dry year across Aurora.
Why has Aurora turned to smart water meters
Aurora is dealing with a serious water shortage. According to the ‘City of Aurora’s drought information,’ the city is currently in Stage 1 drought, with reservoirs only about half full. The city says returning those supplies to sustainable levels could take several wet winters. As part of its response, Aurora Water is asking residents to reduce outdoor water use by 20%.That has made lawn watering a particular focus. Under the current restrictions, grass can be watered only two days each week. Watering is also prohibited between 10am and 6pm, while other measures cover issues such as irrigation leaks, water running onto streets and unrestricted hose use. The rules would be difficult to enforce manually across a city of hundreds of thousands of residents. Smart meters give Aurora Water another option of allowing the utility to see when water is being used and spot patterns that may indicate irrigation.
Smart Metre. Image Credit: EVB Energy Ltd/Wikipedia
How do the smart meters detect lawn watering
The system is part of Aurora’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure, or AMI. According to the ‘City of Aurora’s Advanced Metering Infrastructure,’ the meters record water flow at regular intervals and send readings to Aurora Water using a mobile phone signal. The system provides the utility with a much clearer picture of how much water is being used and when. The Colorado Sun reported that Aurora’s meters provide updates every 15 minutes. That level of detail means a sudden increase in water use can reveal when an irrigation system has switched on.If the same property waters its lawn for a third day in a week, the pattern can be picked up by the system. Aurora Water can then review the information and issue a warning or fine where a violation is confirmed. The Colorado Sun reported that the city had sent more than 2,500 warning letters and issued 234 fines. Ten of the largest fines, worth $2,000 each, went to businesses and large irrigation users. Three residential customers had received a second $250 fine, while none had reached a third fine at the time of the report.
What happens when a resident breaks the watering rules
As reported by the Colorado Sun, the smart meters alert Aurora Water to possible violations. Water officials then confirm the use before sending a warning or fine. This distinction matters because increased water use can have different causes, including leaks or other household activity. Aurora Water officials said that the data can provide a clear record of irrigation. In some cases, residents who initially disputed a warning were shown the usage information and can see why the city identified irrigation at their property.For residents, the same technology can also be useful. The City of Aurora says customers can view their own water-use information through an online portal. They can monitor usage, look for ways to conserve and set alerts for possible leaks. That means the meters are not designed only as an enforcement tool. They can also help households find a leaking pipe or irrigation problem before it causes significant damage.
Aurora say the technology matters during drought
The scale of the current drought helps explain why the city is relying on detailed water-use information. The ‘City of Aurora’s drought page’ says Colorado is naturally prone to drought and receives relatively little precipitation. During shortages, the available water supply has to be prioritised for essential needs such as life, health and safety. Aurora’s drought plan therefore focuses reductions mainly on outdoor water use.The Colorado Sun reported that Aurora’s 400,000 residents were using 27% less lawn water than in 2025, while combined indoor and outdoor use had fallen by 9%. The city’s reservoir system, however, was only 49% full when it should have been above 80%. Those figures show why even ordinary household decisions, such as watering a lawn for an extra day, have become important to the city’s water strategy.
Aurora Municipal Centre. Image Credit: Ken Lund/ Wikipedia
Does the system raise privacy concerns
The use of detailed household water data also raises questions about privacy. The privacy groups have previously raised concerns about smart household devices, including water and electricity meters. Detailed usage patterns can potentially reveal information about when people are at home and what they are doing.Aurora Water has presented the meters differently. A city official compared the technology to a personal fitness tracker, arguing that the information can help people recognise patterns and change their habits. The city also points out that residents can access their own water-use data. The result is a noticeable change in how lawn watering is treated.
