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About Water and Sewer Rates

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Understanding Our Water and Sewer Rates: 

 

According to the 2020 Community Survey, providing safe drinking water and sewer services is a top priority for residents.

Monthly utility bills are the sole source of revenue to support Westminster’s water and wastewater system. Rates determine what is charged on those utility bills based mostly on how much water a household uses. The majority of revenue collected through utility bills goes toward projects that repair infrastructure and staff to operate the system.

2024 Water and Sewer Rates

The 2024 water rates went into effect January 1, 2024. 

Taxes are not used to provide water and sewer services and rates are set to fairly charge a customer based on their impacts on the system.

Background on Westminster's Rates

Prior to 2021, the city raised water and sewer rates an average of 4.8% each year since 2000 with more substantial rate increases adopted in 2019 and 2020. In February 2022, City Council voted to reduce water rates and increase consumption limits of the City’s three-tier structure for residential customers. This new rate structure was developed through extensive financial modeling and provided immediate financial relief ahead of the irrigation season. In addition to covering additional costs due to inflation, which has increased 1 – 4% each year since 2000, the main driver for rate increases has been the need to invest more in replacing and repairing the city’s existing infrastructure. 

Aging water and sewer infrastructure is the largest challenge facing Westminster's water and sewer system. A large portion of Westminster’s infrastructure was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s during a period of significant growth in the city. All of this infrastructure is now close to 50 years old and needs to be replaced. Studies have shown that we’ve used up half the useful life of our water and sewer infrastructure and 25% of the total infrastructure is already at or beyond its designed life.

Aging infrastructure and increasing water rates are a challenge across the country. The American Society of Civil Engineers grades Colorado’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure at C-. Nationwide, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is graded D and D+, respectively.

To continue delivering safe and reliable drinking water, the city has increased its investment in construction projects that repair and replace our existing infrastructure.

The challenge: aging infrastructure

Aging water and sewer infrastructure is the largest challenge facing Westminster's water and sewer system. Investing today prevents the even higher cost of failure.

A large portion of Westminster’s infrastructure was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s during a period of significant growth in the city. All of this infrastructure is now close to 50 years old and needs to be replaced.

Studies have shown that we’ve used up half the useful life of our water and sewer infrastructure and 25% of the total infrastructure is already at or beyond its designed life.

Failure to invest more in the city’s existing infrastructure today will lead to service interruptions, sewer backups and possible impacts to water quality such as boil water advisories. Not to mention emergency repairs that are up to eight times more expensive than planned projects.

Aging infrastructure and increasing water rates are a challenge across the country. The American Society of Civil Engineers grades Colorado’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure at C-. Nationwide, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is graded D and D+, respectively.

Over the last ten years, the city averaged about $30 million a year in water and sewer construction projects. Based on comprehensive engineering studies, staff recommends increasing the city’s investment in repairing or replacing its existing infrastructure. The city’s Long Term Planning process systematically identifies the right projects at the right time to invest ratepayers’ funds as efficiently as possible. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions


Programs To Help You Manage Your Bill

The city offers several programs to help interested customers use less water and manage their bill, including a new assistance program for residents financially impacted by COVID-19. Water bill assistance programs also offer income-qualified customers a $15 per month credit toward their utility bill, free replacement of old toilets and no-cost leak repairs.  The city also offers several water conservation programs to help residents use less water outdoors, including a new Grass to Garden program.

Water bill assistance