diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
index 274e28067..4a9409f83 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
@@ -109,7 +109,15 @@ MANAGERS = ADMINS
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # See: https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/settings/#databases
 DATABASES = {
-    'default': env.db('DATABASE_URL', default='postgres://{% if cookiecutter.windows == 'y' %}localhost{% endif %}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}'),
+    'default': {
+        'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql',
+        'NAME': '{% if cookiecutter.windows == 'y' %}localhost{% endif %}/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}',
+        'USER': env.db('DATABASE_USER', default=''),
+        'PASSWORD': env.db('DATABASE_PASSWORD', default=''),
+        'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
+        'PORT': '',
+        'CONN_MAX_AGE': 0
+    }
 }
 DATABASES['default']['ATOMIC_REQUESTS'] = True
 
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/env.example b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/env.example
index 138b75fd9..8abf4ea14 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/env.example
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/env.example
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 # PostgreSQL
-POSTGRES_PASSWORD=mysecretpass
-POSTGRES_USER=postgresuser
+DATABASE_PASSWORD=mysecretpass
+DATABASE_USER=postgresuser
 
 # General settings
 # DJANGO_READ_DOT_ENV_FILE=True