Frequently Asked Questions

If you wonder why your meter pit is painted blue, have questions about water rates, payment options, or what to do if you have a leak, we answer that and more on the Account Info page.

If you have questions about our water sources and quality, check our Water Quality page.

For information on construction, commercial tap requirements, fire hydrants and more, go to our Engineering Info page.

Water Line Maintenance and Repair
Today I noticed District employees running lots of water from fire hydrants and wasting it. Is this necessary? Hydrant flushing is a necessary task for water quality maintenance for all water systems. Flushing the water lines systematically through hydrants removes excess accumulation of naturally occurring sediments in the water lines, and keeps your water fresh and clear.

There were crews repairing a water main break yesterday in my area, and now have discolored and foamy water. Is this safe to use? Yes, the water is still safe, although you may want to strain the water through several layers of coffee filters for appearance, and avoid doing laundry until the water settles and moves through the system. When a water line breaks, there is a sudden and dramatic increase in water flow. This “stirs up” sediment that then settles to bottom of the water line when the water stops flowing while the line is shut down for the repairs. After repairs, the lines are flushed to remove as much sediment as possible before the line comes back into service, but the water may still have a faint rusty color from the remaining suspended particles or a foamy or “milky” look from excess air which was trapped in the water main after it was repaired and sealed.

It has been a few days since the water main break and the water still looks odd, should I call the District? Yes, please let us know if it hasn’t cleared after a day or two. We can usually clear up the situation through flushing fire hydrants and your service line if the problem persists.
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Water Line Locations
I came home from work and found paint marks and little flags of several colors in the street and in my yard. Why are they there, and when can I remove them? It is a law in Colorado that any person who digs or excavates must request utility locates of the area. By law, the District and other utilities are required to locate and mark their utility lines if requested. Please do not remove any flags or locate sheets from the area, since the company who is digging needs to know where the various utilities are located so they do not break them.

I want to build a fence or plant some trees along my front yard and I’m not sure if there is a water line in the area. Should I call the District? Yes, please do call us @ 303-530-4200x210. The District locates its water lines free of charge to contractors and homeowners alike. We cannot, however, locate or repair the private service line from the meter pit to the house.

I don’t like seeing the fire hydrant or the lid of my water meter pit in my yard. Can I landscape around them and hide them? No. District policy requires that a minimum three foot radius around water meter pits and fire hydrants remain clear of any shrubs, trees, fences or other landscape material that limits access by our personnel for repair and maintenance. The main shut-off valve for your house is in the meter pit, and hiding or covering the pit not only increases the likelihood of delays and damage should the water line break inside your house, but doing so could lead to additional charges on your water bill if District personnel have to either “dig out” the meter pit or remove shrubs and trees in order to perform routine or emergency maintenance. Fire hydrants must remain visible and accessible at all times.

I’m landscaping my front yard and the meter pit is too low. Can I use bricks and raise the meter pit myself, or box in around the meter pit? Please don’t! Simply contact the District and our employees can raise the meter pit properly to the desired height. The water meter pit and its contents are the property of the District, and unauthorized alterations can lead to additional problems. Building a wall or box around the meter pit can also prevent us from reaching and accessing the meter for emergency shut off, repairs, or maintenance. There is a service fee for raising the meter pit.
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Water Taps
How do I get a tap? A property within the service area and boundaries of the District may be eligible for water service, provided there is “capacity to serve” additional tap or taps, without adversely impacting existing customers. A Tap Availability Review form (pdf) must be submitted, along with the required fees, plans and legal description of the property. The District Engineer will review the form and the District will issue a letter outlining the procedure for obtaining service, an estimate of the costs to provide service, and any off-site improvements that may be necessary to serve an individual tap or development. An applicant for commercial service must also fill out a Commercial Supplemental Form (pdf).

How much is a tap? Tap fees consist of several components, and the total price for a tap may vary depending on the area of service, type of water right available to provide service to the tap, the size of the lot for residential service in a subdivision, or the potential water demands for commercial service. Tap fee schedules (20k, pdf) may be accessed here. For more information on tap fees which may apply to a particular property within the District, we recommend contacting the our office at 303-530-4200x219, or email us.

What is a line fee and when does it apply? When the District or an applicant for service upgrades or extends a water line to serve a particular area, a line fee may be assessed to future connectors to that water line, in the form of a surcharge in addition to other tap fees. The line fee is intended to reimburse the District or other party for the cost of water line construction. The formula for calculating the line fee is generally based on the total cost of the project, divided by the number of connectors that can utilize that line.

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Service Line & Irrigation Leaks – Recommendations
Occasionally customers will ask the District for contractor recommendations when they have a leak on their service line or irrigation system that needs to be repaired. Generally, the contractors the District qualifies and hires are major pipeline contractors who do not do small-scale repair work. We are therefore unable to provide you with specific contractor recommendations. We do, however, offer the following suggestions when looking for a contractor to repair your service line or irrigation system leak:

Look in the yellow pages under “Plumbing Contractors” or “Excavating Contractors” for a contractor who does water service installation and/or repair, or under “Sprinklers-Lawn & Garden” if the leak is on your irrigation system.

Ask to see a copy of the contractor’s liability insurance and workman’s compensation insurance.

Ask for a written contract, specifying the terms and conditions of the job.

Ask the contractor for references from previous customers.

If you need help locating the leak, licensed plumbers may have the equipment to locate a leak before any excavation occurs, or they can refer you to firms that specialize in leak detection.

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