Summer-like temperatures are on the way to Colorado this week, but water utility companies said homeowners shouldn't treat their lawns like it's June, July or August.

"Step away from their irrigation systems," Denver Water spokesperson Todd Hartman said. "It’s only March. Typically, those don’t get turned on till May anyway. But I know the warm weather, the very warm weather we’re projected to have, is going to tempt some people to do that. It’s critical they don’t do that."

Hartman said weekend snow should have provided enough moisture to get through the upcoming heat wave without needing to turn on sprinklers.

"So that’s one good reason not to turn them on," Hartman said.

He added there's still time for moisture to come to Colorado in April or May, and if that leads to a freeze, it could cause damage to a sprinkler system that's been turned on early.

"We want people to understand that we’ve seen some of the worst snowpack on record, and what that means is we’ve all got to work together to keep water in the reservoir in case this drought continues," Hartman said. "And by turning on your sprinklers for a few hot days in March, you’re not helping that situation."

Hartman said many customers tend to set their sprinklers to turn on and forget about them. He said if that routine is enacted too early in the year, it could lead to impacts on water resources.

"We are not going to run out of water this year, but our reservoirs are a bit below the average level," Hartman said. "They’re about 80% full right now collectively. Typically, right now, they would be about 85% full."

He said given the abnormal winter weather so far, the Board of Water Commissioners is considering Stage 1 drought restrictions.

"If we go forward with that, that would limit you to two days of watering a week and you would be assigned those days, most likely," Hartman said.

He said most Denver Water customers are on a three-day water scheduling during the May to October water season.

The board is set to discuss enacting the restrictions at its next meeting on March 25.

Hartman said the last time he remembers drought conditions this bad in Colorado was in the early 2000s. He recalled a snowstorm that rebounded conditions in a way Colorado could benefit from this year. It hit March 17, 2003.

"We’re at March 17 today, [but] no sign of that," Hartman said. "No sign of a March miracle so this could be a tougher stretch. We hope not but we’re asking people to be thoughtful about their watering."