Utilities Transparency

Utilities Planning

In Fall 2020, City Council provided strategic direction to the Infrastructure work system to complete long range plans for water, wastewater and storm infrastructure by 2023. These plans provide staff with a roadmap to prioritize work that needs to be done in our water/wastewater systems. The City team completed the master plans in 2021 and 2022, and the results of the plans are being used to plan work for immediate, short-term and longer-term needs.

Updates

Utilities Rates, Fees & SDCs

City Council approves annual increases to customer paid water, sewer, and storm rates and fees and developer paid System Development Charges (SDCs). Please access the following information for additional details about the increases:

• Utilities Rates and Fees page for current customer rates
  • Note: 2024 water, sewer and storm rates and fees were passed by City Council on Monday, October 16, 2023. See the full ordinances beginning on page 163.
• System Development Charges (Tap Fees) - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
  • Ordinance (begins on page 136) amending SDCs beginning October 1, 2023 
  • Note: an additional ordinance moving the start date tying SDCs to building permits was passed by City Council at the December 5, 2022 business meeting. 

Recent City Council presentations related to these topics are listed at the bottom of the page.

Current Projects

• Water Treatment Plant Replacement
• Service Line Inventory Project
• 69th / 70th & Ward Sewer Line Replacement
• Other City Public Improvement Projects

About Our Water & Wastewater Systems

Arvada residents rely on their water and wastewater utilities to be there when they need them. That infrastructure requires regular maintenance and, at times, major investments in order to keep the system functioning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.

• The city's water and wastewater systems date to the early 20th century with current components installed starting in the 1950s.
• Between the 1960s and 1980s, Arvada residents provided a funding boost to our water and wastewater systems. Those infrastructure components are reaching the end of their useful life.
• The City's water and wastewater systems are vast, with raw water components, two drinking water treatment facilities, over 600 miles of water pipe, and over 450 miles of wastewater pipe.

Funding Sources

Each year, the City team prioritizes projects in our system to keep delivering the level of service residents have come to expect. Some projects build capacity for new users and other projects replace and rehabilitate the existing system.

• Replacing and rehabilitating our vast water and wastewater systems is paid for through customer rates and bimonthly service fees.
• System development charges are collected from new homes and businesses to pay for the new capacity needed to serve them. Once in the city system, these customers pay rates and bimonthly service fees like everyone else.

For reference, the 10-year financials for the water, wastewater, and stormwater enterprise funds can be viewed in the City's Budget Book (PDF) on the following pages: Water, pages 112 to 113; Wastewater, pages 114 to 115; Stormwater, pages 118 to 119.

Presentations to Council