Utilities Master Planning
In Fall 2020, City Council provided strategic direction to the Infrastructure work system to complete master 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 master plans are being used to plan work for immediate, short-term and longer-term needs.
Updates
City Council approved the recommended increases to customer water rates and fees and developer System Development Charges (SDC) at the October 17 business meeting. Please access the following information for additional details about the increases:
- Customer Rates & Fees - Frequently Ask Questions
- System Development Charges (tap fees) - Frequently Asked Question
- Note: an additional ordinance moving the start date tying SDCs to building permits was passed by City Council at the December 5 business meeting. Please see the FAQ for details.
- Additional information in the Presentations to Council section below.
About Our Water and 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 on the following pages: Water p 112-113; Wastewater p 114-115; Stormwater p 118-119.
Presentations to Council
- Jan. 10, 2022:
- Download the meeting packet: Storm and Sewer Master Planning Workshop
- View the meeting video
- March 14, 2022:
- Download the meeting packet Water Demand Forecast Workshop
- View the meeting video
- March 28, 2022:
- Download the meeting packet Water & Sewer Infrastructure Capacity Needs Assessment and Road Map
- Download the spreadsheets showing funded/unfunded Waste Water projects and the funded/unfunded Water projects.
- View the meeting video
- April 25, 2022:
- Download the meeting packet Utilities Level of Service and Financial Strategies
- View the meeting video
- July 25, 2022
- Download the meeting packet Utilities Financial Strategies Workshop
- View the meeting video
- October 17, 2022
- Download the business meeting packet
- View the meeting video
- December 5, 2022
- Download the business meeting packet (p. 264)
- View the meeting video (min. 1:09:00)
Contact
Please contact the Utilities Department with additional questions at utiladmin@arvada.org or 720-898-7070.