Here’s an important public service message from Denver Water: A dry winter across Colorado has led to low snowpack and mountain streamflows are expected to be well below normal. Denver Water has declared a Stage 1 drought, which is the first response to drought conditions. The goal of this drought declaration is to preserve reservoir storage going into 2013, in case next year’s snowpack is also below normal.

Now, more than ever, customers are asked to use only what they need — especially when watering outdoors. Here are some tips to use less water this summer.