By Justin George
Camera Staff Writer

LAFAYETTE — City officials have asked the governor's office for state and federal emergency disaster money to help the city make it through this year's drought, which has devastated Lafayette's drinking water supply.

"The Public Works Department has contacted the governor's office with the appropriate paperwork trying to find out what kind of funds we would qualify for, and we're waiting to hear back from them," Mayor Dale Avery said Wednesday.

• Drought and fire coverage WARNINGS More than 144 warnings have been issued to violators of Louisville's water restrictions since the city enacted mandatory rationing on May 15. Only one violator, a commercial business, has been issued a ticket — $75 — for breaking the city's new rules, which assign residents and businesses specific days when they can water lawns and gardens for a limited time during designated hours.

The request, made through the Department of Local Affairs, precedes Tuesday's decision to restrict residents' outdoor water use by 75 percent this summer.

The restrictions, ranging from a ban on swimming in outdoor pools to mandatory two-hour a week lawn watering schedules, are considered the strictest in the Denver-metro area. They went into effect Tuesday.

City officials say if residents don't drastically curb water use, Lafayette could be out of water by November.

A "drought team" made up of public works officials, police and other city staff members met Wednesday to discuss enforcement and how to better communicate with the more than 23,000 people who live in the city.

City spokeswoman Alexandra Lynch said code enforcement and police officers will patrol the city using the city's watering schedule, which limits people to watering their lawns between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. or 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. one day a week — depending on addresses. Fines for violating the schedule start at $250. Repeat offenders could have "flow restrictors" placed in their homes.

Lynch said finance notices are being sent to every city water user. The letters will explain the city's regulations and show homes and businesses how much water they have used in the first four months of the year, so people can gauge their monthly water use and know how much to cut back on.

The use of outdoor pools was banned Tuesday, but Lynch said the city plans to open its Lamont Does pool in time for this weekend. The pool plans to apply for a variance with the Public Works Department after several residents decried its closing for this summer.

Lynch said the use of other outdoor pools might be allowed if operators show the city that water used in pools will be offset by not using water elsewhere.

The city's public works director will decide on the requests individually.

City officials hope state or federal disaster relief money may help them build the "75th Street" water pipeline that would connect the city with much needed water in Boulder Creek.

But Tom Grier, director of the state office of Emergency Management said there is no money available now that could help Lafayette.

"As we speak today, there are no funds with the state or federal government to go in and help a local municipality that has a water shortage," he said.

In late April, Gov. Bill Owens requested that the entire state receive an emergency drought declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dan Hopkins, the governor's press secretary, said he expects Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to approve the governor's request "imminently." The declaration would immediately help farmers obtain low-interest loans, but, if a drought wore on, it might allow Colorado cities to apply for federal help, Hopkins said.

Hopkins said Lafayette might also benefit from the governor's signature on House Bill 1414, which would allow cities to enter into agreements with other water users, including neighboring cities and farmers, who have extra water.

The state water engineer cannot approve those agreements until the bill is signed.

"We would certainly urge expediting the signature of any bill that would help us do that," Lafayette Administrator Gary Klaphake said.

Hopkins said the governor expects to see the bill any day.

Contact Justin George at (303) 473-1359 or georgej@thedailycamera.com.

May 23, 2002

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