As Colorado navigates significant drought conditions this year, you may notice some of our school lawns and large open fields turning brown. This is intentional. We are committed to being responsible managers of our resources by doing our part to conserve water.

Where We Are Saving Water

To follow city water rules and still keep our students safe, we have to make choices about which areas get water and which ones don't. We are applying a simple prioritization to make those decisions:

• Top Priority: Student Safety. Our high school and middle school sports fields are the most important. These fields need to stay healthy so they are safe for our athletes to play on.
• Second Priority: Protecting New Growth. We are watering plants put in within the last two years because they are not yet fully established. We want to make sure these survive so we don't have to replace them later.
• Third Priority: Saving Millions of Gallons. You may see our large, secondary fields turning brown. We have turned the water off in these areas to save as much water as possible. The grass isn't dead, it has simply gone dormant to survive the drought. Once conditions improve and we can resume regular watering, these areas will turn green again. 

Watering Smarter

Our grounds team is working hard to make sure we don't waste water. We are watering in short bursts so the water actually soaks into the dirt instead of running off into the street. We are also letting the grass grow a little taller (about 3 to 4 inches). Taller grass shades the soil, which keeps the roots cool and stops water from evaporating in the heat.

Working Together

We know it can be disappointing to see brown grass, but it’s a sign that we are taking this drought seriously. If you see a sprinkler running, it's because that specific area is a high-priority for student safety and protecting our investments.

We are proud to stand with the rest of Westminster in these conservation efforts. By being smart with our water now, we are making sure our schools stay healthy and vibrant for years to come.

Questions? 

We are happy to help. Please reach out to your school or the district office for more information.