For the first time in more than two decades, Denver Water announced an added surcharge on water bills yesterday to encourage conservation amid the ongoing drought.

Why it matters: The utility — which serves 1.5 million in the area — is putting the onus on its customers to use less water, but the additional fees inevitably add to the region's cost-of-living concerns.

Driving the news: The temporary price hikes, approved with little discussion by the utility's water commissioners, take effect May 1 and target the system's top users.

• Customers in Tier 1 — residents and businesses that do little to no outdoor watering — won't see a bill increase.

Yes, but: Tier 2 customers — whose average winter consumption rate and usage nears 15,000 gallons monthly — will pay an extra $1.10 for every additional 1,000 gallons.

• Tier 3 customers — those who use more than 15,000 gallons per month — will face a $2.20 surcharge on every 1,000 gallons.

By the numbers: For Denver residents, the fees are expected to add between $7 and $76 annually, with heavier users paying more.

• For customers outside city limits, water bills will increase between $8 and $76.

The big picture: Denver Water declared a drought in March and set a goal to reduce water usage by 20%.

• The move follows Colorado's historically low snowpack that's melting at the fastest rate ever seen in the month of April, Denver Water officials said.
• The last time the utility added drought pricing was in 2004.

What we're watching: The price hikes will remain in place for a year. If the utility doesn't meet its water savings goal, it may take additional conservation actions this summer.

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Colorado voters are increasingly pessimistic about the state's Democratic leaders, a new poll shows.

Why it matters: The attitude shift among likely voters comes ahead of the 2026 election and offers insight into June's primary contests.

State of play: The top three Democrats in Colorado — Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet — all saw favorability decreases since November, according to numbers released yesterday by the bipartisan Colorado Polling Institute.

• Polis is viewed unfavorably by 48% of likely voters, compared to 44% favorable, a four-point negative shift from the previous survey.
• Hickenlooper, who is seeking reelection and faces a progressive challenger, saw his image erode five points with voters now split at 43%.
• Bennet, who is running for governor, saw his image decline 4-points with his favorability now at 40% compared to 39% unfavorable.

What they're saying: "We've seen Democrats become quite frustrated with incumbent legislators and executives across the state and across the country," said Democratic pollster Kevin Ingham at Aspect Strategic.

Caveat: The poll, conducted March 20-25, has a plus-or-minus 3.96 percentage points margin of error.

The intrigue: The numbers offer a key look into select Democratic primary races, where independent, public polling is scant.

More numbers

Regional Transportation District (RTD) chief executive and general manager Debra Johnson plans to leave her role next year.

Why it matters: Losing its top brass adds instability at a critical moment, as the agency grapples with service, safety and low ridership.

Driving the news: Johnson sent a letter to employees yesterday saying she won't extend her contract beyond May 2027, after turning down an offer from RTD's board last month.

What they're saying: "This region is made better by the contributions of this agency's passionate employees," Johnson said, adding she plans to help recruit her replacement.

• "The agency is in a much better place because of her dedication," RTD board chair Patrick O'Keefe said in a statement.

Keep reading

👀 U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet backed out of a forum in the governor's race to avoid questions about his stance on the war in Gaza, organizers say. (Denver Post 🔑)

📈 Colorado added 6,600 non-farm jobs in January as the unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percent to 3.9%, John reports.

🌪️ Top Colorado lawmakers want to levy a new fee on homeowners' insurance policies that amounts to $100 million in five years. The money would go toward grants for consumers to purchase hail-resistant roofs. (CPR)

⛺ Denver Mayor Mike Johnston yesterday appointed his former homelessness czar, Cole Chandler, to serve as executive director for the Department of Housing Stability, Esteban reports.

Five days before the Titanic sank, American writer Archibald Gracie penned a foreboding letter aboard the colossal ocean liner.

Zoom in: "It is a fine ship this, but I shall await my journey's end before I pass judgment on her," he wrote in a letter dated April 10, 1912, sending it a day later when the ship was docked in Queenstown, Ireland.

• Gracie survived the sinking on April 15, 1912. Roughly 1,500 others weren't so lucky.

The latest: The letter is on public display for the first time, making its historic debut at the Molly Brown House Museum this week along with other eerie but fascinating relics connected to the tragic story.

• Margaret Brown — better known as the Unsinkable Molly Brown — was among the shipwreck survivors, and her house in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood includes a permanent Titanic exhibit.

Also on display for the first time:

• A journal recovered from victim Ernest Tomlin, a third-class passenger, with a single inscription on April 10, 1912: "Titanic."

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