May Is Water Conservation Month
Every May, communities across Colorado recognize Water Conservation Month to raise awareness about responsible outdoor water use. For Castle Rock residents and commercial property managers, this is a timely reminder that outdoor irrigation accounts for more than 50% of total household water consumption during summer months.
The Town of Castle Rock enforces outdoor watering restrictions from May 1 through October 15 each year. These rules apply to all residential and commercial properties served by Castle Rock Water.
Castle Rock 2026 Outdoor Watering Schedule
Castle Rock uses an address-based watering schedule to distribute demand across the system. Here are the key rules for 2026:
- Odd-numbered addresses: Water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Even-numbered addresses: Water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- No watering on Mondays (system recovery day)
- Watering hours: Before 10:00 AM or after 6:00 PM only
- No watering during rain or within 48 hours of measurable precipitation
- New sod and seed: Temporary watering permits available for establishment periods
Violations can result in warnings, fines, and water rate surcharges. Commercial properties with large irrigation systems are subject to the same schedule and are monitored by Castle Rock Water.
Douglas County Watering Restrictions Beyond Castle Rock
Other communities in Douglas County have their own schedules:
- Highlands Ranch: 3-day watering schedule, no watering 10 AM - 6 PM
- Parker: Odd/even address schedule, watering before 10 AM or after 6 PM
- Lone Tree: Follows Centennial Water and Sanitation District rules
- Castle Pines: 3-day schedule aligned with Castle Pines North Metro District
If you manage properties across multiple jurisdictions in Douglas County, compliance can be complex. JLS programs each property's irrigation controller to match its specific municipal schedule automatically.
Water Conservation Tips for Colorado Properties
Beyond following the schedule, these strategies help reduce water use by 20-40% while maintaining a healthy landscape:
Smart Irrigation Controllers
Weather-based smart controllers adjust run times daily based on temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. They skip watering after rain events and reduce zones during cool spells. JLS installs and maintains signal-based and historic ET controllers that respond to real Colorado conditions rather than running on a fixed timer.
Cycle and Soak Programming
Colorado's clay soils absorb water slowly. Running zones in shorter cycles with rest periods between them allows water to soak in rather than running off into gutters. This is especially important on slopes and south-facing exposures.
Drip Irrigation for Beds and Trees
Converting overhead spray zones in planting beds to drip irrigation eliminates wind drift, evaporation, and overspray. Drip systems deliver water directly to root zones and can reduce bed irrigation water use by 50% or more.
Proper Mowing Height
Keeping turf at 3 to 3.5 inches shades the soil surface, reduces evaporation, and encourages deeper root growth. Deep roots access moisture that shallow-rooted turf cannot reach during dry periods.
Mulch and Rock Beds
A 3-inch layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials reduces soil moisture loss by up to 70%. Rock mulch in xeriscape areas eliminates irrigation needs entirely for established drought-tolerant plantings.
How JLS Helps Castle Rock Properties Conserve Water
JLS Landscape and Sprinkler has been managing irrigation systems in Castle Rock and Douglas County since 1975. Our approach to water conservation includes:
- Annual spring irrigation audits to identify leaks, misaligned heads, and pressure issues
- Smart controller programming matched to your specific municipal watering schedule
- Flow sensor installation for automated leak detection
- Seasonal run-time adjustments as temperatures and ET rates change
- Drip conversion recommendations for beds with overhead spray
- Winterization to prevent freeze damage and spring startup to confirm full system function
Our LICT-certified irrigation technicians understand both the technical requirements of complex commercial systems and the specific watering rules enforced by Castle Rock Water, Parker Water, and other Douglas County districts.
Schedule Your Spring Irrigation Audit
Before the May 1 watering season begins, schedule a spring activation and system audit with JLS. We check every zone, verify programming compliance, and identify efficiency opportunities before your first water bill arrives.