Drought Information

Stage 1 Water Advisory Graphic

  • Landscape or lawn watering should be limited in such a manner so as to reduce overall water usage by at least 10%
  • Landscape or lawn watering with automated sprinkler systems between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is discouraged. Landscape or lawn watering with manual sprinkler systems between the hours of 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. is discouraged. 
  • Watering early in the morning is recommended to avoid excess evaporation and discourage fungus growth, and lawns should be aerated to improve absorption and reduce runoff. Lawn watering should be done only when the lawn needs watering. 
  • Sprinkler systems should be shut off when it is raining. 
  • Fugitive water which overflows the landscaped area being watered and leaves the property is discouraged. 
  • Landscape and lawn watering should be stopped when winds are strong enough to cause the water to leave the area being watered. 
  • Installation of new landscaping is discouraged and if any new plant material is installed, only drought-resistant or low-water-use plants should be used. Mulch should be placed around all existing plants, trees, shrubs, or flower gardens to hold moisture in the soil. 
  • Washing of hard surfaces, such as parking lots, driveways or sidewalks, is discouraged. 
  • Indoor and outdoor leaks should be repaired immediately upon discovery.
  • Filling of swimming pools or hot tubs is discouraged. Swimming pools and hot tubs should be covered when not in use. 
  • Outdoor use of water for recreational purposes is discouraged. 
  • Restaurants should be encouraged to provide water to customers only upon request. 
  • Hotels, motels and other lodging facilities are requested to promote water conservation by encouraging guests to minimize use of towels and not changing bed linens for multi-night stays except once every four days. 
  • Ornamental fountains with re-circulated water may be operated only when winds do not exceed 12 mph. Ornamental fountains without recirculated water are discouraged. 
  • Use of fire hydrants should be limited to firefighting use and use of fire hydrants for other purposes discouraged unless metered. 
  • Car washing at residences is discouraged. All hoses used for landscape watering, car washing or other uses should be equipped with a shut-off nozzle. 
  • Car washing at self-serve car washes is encouraged and businesses that wash vehicles are encouraged to use high-pressure wash systems. 
  • Water users are encouraged to replace old plumbing fixtures with low flow fixtures, such as low flow showerheads, faucets and toilets, or retrofit existing fixtures with low flow devices, such as toilet tank dams, water-filled plastic jugs, or a brick. 
  • Water users are encouraged to take shorter showers; not to let the water run continuously while brushing teeth or shaving, and to flush only when necessary. 
  • Appliances that use water, such as dishwashers and clothes washers, should be run only with full loads. 
  • Evaporative coolers should be run only when needed and have a thermostat to control their operation. Evaporative coolers that bleed off water should be replaced with an evaporative cooler that uses re-circulated water. 
  • Hot water heaters should be insulated; the temperature set appropriately, and partially drained once per year. 
  • Outdoor open burning which requires water to be available for extinguishment is discouraged.
  • New accounts for bulk sale of water are permitted, but with the contract, language to curtail use in other stages. 
  • Treated water bulk sales contracts shall be encouraged to be reduced or diminished by ten percent (based on the same month of the preceding year) or at a percentage which is in the same ratio or proportion as the supply by the city's own customers is being reduced or diminished, whichever is greater, until the stage 1 restrictions are lifted.
San Juan River Basin Water Presentation

Click above image to see presentation. 

April 20, 2021: San Juan River Basin Water Supply Outlook

Farmington City Council heard a presentation this week from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. The purpose of the presentation was to get an idea of what our water situation will be like in the upcoming months and prepare our community for the possibility of water shortage advisories. 


Here are the key points from the presentation: 

- Below normal water year precipitation in the San Juan River Basin

- Below normal snow conditions

- Near/record low antecedent soil moisture conditions entering water year 2021 snow accumulation & runoff season

- Two consecutive years of poor monsoon

- Limited groundwater recharge since 2019 runoff

- April water supply forecasts (% of normal):

* April 1st forecasts range between 35-75% of average

* Forecast guidance has decreased by ~5-10% since the April 1st

* Best conditions are located in the eastern headwaters and deteriorate moving west towards the Animas River Basin.

- Dry soils will most likely impact runoff with a portion of the snowmelt being absorbed into the ground.

- The weather pattern will remain unsettled for most of the week with no significant precipitation expected.


What does this mean? 

The forecast shows that it’s almost inevitable that we’ll be in some level of water shortage advisory this summer. We want to prepare the community so you aren’t caught off guard. 


There are things you can do now to help eliminate water waste every day such as: 

 

  1. Fixing leaky faucets 

  2. When upgrading fixtures and appliances, consider low water consumption models

  3. Ensuring irrigation sprinklers are in good working condition and properly timed 

  4. Use your broom, not your hose, to clean outdoors.


The City of Farmington has been very proactive for many years regarding water management. This includes well-maintained and modern infrastructure, prudent investment in water rights, redundant supply —  and most significant, construction of a large water reservoir. This certainly does not mean we are immune to drought conditions. Stewardship of this scarce resource is vital. However, your City is well prepared to mitigate impacts and to maintain quality of life and economic viability as reasonably possible.

Report Water Waste

  • For leaks and breaks related to water or sewer: (505) 326-1918
  • For sprinkler over-spray and/or breaks in parks, medians, or at City of Farmington facilities: (505) 320-2993
  • For sprinklers on Farmington Municipal School (FMS) property: (505) 599-8621 

Drought Management Links

Drought Tips and Announcements: