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New Water Service Connections

Setting up a new water connection doesn’t need to be a hassle. We are here to guide you through the process.
What is your applicable situation?

Need Water Soon — Inside Denver

Follow these steps for properties that currently have water and reside inside the City and County of Denver.

Step 1: Evaluate the water service line

Effective July 1, 2016, Denver Water, in cooperation with the City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department, is requiring an evaluation on all water service lines prior to issuing a building permit for any residential single-family or single structure multi-family major renovation, addition or remodel that is logged in for building and/or zoning permit review. This required evaluation also applies to any residential stand-alone garage projects that propose to add water service.

Within Denver, many water service lines, which connect to the Denver Water distribution system but are owned by the property owner, are 50 or more years old and/or composed of non-copper material. These lines may pose health and safety risks, cause low pressure issues or break. Based on the evaluation’s findings on age and material, you may be required to replace the service line.

Permittee: Contact Denver Water
Please contact Denver Water Sales Administration for an evaluation of the service lines attached to your project by visiting Denver Water at 1600 W. 12th Ave. Denver, CO 80204 ; calling 303-628-6100; or emailing WaterSales@denverwater.org.

Denver Water will provide a written determination about your service line to submit to the City and County of Denver. Community Planning and Development staff must receive this information prior to issuing any building and/or zoning permits from the City and County of Denver for your project.

For questions, please call Denver Water Sales Administration at 303-628-6100.

Step 2: Complete necessary paperwork

Water Supply License:
To complete the water supply license you will need the following information:

  • Tap size to be installed
  • Legal description of the property
  • Square footage of lot to be served
  • Type of use
  • Site plan layout for single-family and duplex residence
  • Site plan layout or sewer use and drainage permit (SUDP) for commercial and 3 or more unit multi-family developments
  • Applicable water demand form

If you are installing an irrigation tap to serve 1+ acres an Irrigation/Landscape review will be required.

All requests not meeting those requirements, as laid out in Section 3.09 in the Denver Water Engineering Standards, may be subject to provision of additional documentation.

Soil Amendment Agreement:
Soil amendment is required prior to landscaping the premise.

I am ready to complete the water supply license.

Contact Denver Wastewater Management at 303-446-3400 for information and charges on your wastewater facilities.

Step 3: Invoicing and payment

Tap Fees

Once your application is received it will be processed within two business days. You will receive an invoice for tap fees, or system development charges (estimate your system development charges). The invoice will include applicable installation and labor fees and taxes.

Payment

We can accept payment in many ways:

  • Online: Use the account number and customer ID provided on the invoice.
  • Credit card by phone: Call 303-628-6100. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
    • Note: As of Nov. 1, 2016, a 2.25 percent service fee will automatically be added to invoices for tap sales purchased with a credit or debit card.
  • In person:
    Bring in a check or credit card to
    1600 W. 12th Ave.
    Denver, CO 80204

Step 4: Tap installation

Install service line, stop box and meter pit:
Prior to installation of the tap, the service line, stop box and meter pit must be installed at the property. Please see requirements checklist. The installation must meet Denver Water's Engineering Standards.

When you are ready for water service to be installed at the property call Denver Water at 303-893-2444 and the tap installation will be scheduled. 

There is no required timeframe to have the tap installed. It is recommended that you do not call Denver Water for a tap install until you are fully ready for water service at the property.

Denver Water does not offer construction water prior to a meter installation at the property. All water used at the property must be metered. If you require construction water please have the service line, stop box, meter pit installed then call Denver Water to schedule a tap install and meter set.

Step 5: Meter Inspection and Installation

Meter Inspection:
Once the tap is ready for service, Denver Water will send a meter inspection technician to the property within three business days to inspect the meter pit.

If the meter pit passes inspection — meaning it was installed to meet the Engineering Standards — the meter will be set and water will be turned on for use.

If the meter pit fails inspection, a checklist will be provided on-site with the modifications that need to be made. Once those are completed by the property owner a second meter inspection appointment can be scheduled.

Once the meter is in place the water is turned on and ready for use. The account is activated and the property owner will receive consumption invoices on a monthly basis.         

Helpful tips to pass meter inspection:

Step 6: Soil amendment inspection

Did you know before a newly constructed premise is landscaped, property owners must amend their soil with compost so the soil more efficiently retains water?

Need Water Soon — Outside Denver

Follow these steps for properties that currently have water and reside outside the City and County of Denver.

Step 1: Complete necessary paperwork

Water Supply License:
To complete the water supply license you will need the following information:

  • Tap size to be installed.
  • Legal description of the property.
  • Square footage of lot to be served.
  • Type of use.

If you are installing an irrigation tap to serve 1+ acres an Irrigation/Landscape review will be required.

Soil Amendment Agreement:
Soil Amendment is required prior to landscaping the premise.

I am ready to complete the water supply license

Contact Denver Wastewater Management at 303-446-3400 for information and charges on your wastewater facilities.

Step 2: Signoff from distributor

For taps located outside the City and County of Denver water licenses require signature from the corresponding distributor where the property will be served.

There may be additional fees charged by the distributor for water licenses.

Once the distributor has signed off on the license, submit your paperwork to Denver Water in one of three ways:

  • Fax: 303-628-6046
  • Email: watersales@denverwater.org
  • In person:
    Denver Water Administration Building
    1600 W. 12th Ave.
    Denver, CO 80204

Step 3: Invoicing and payment

Tap Fees

Once your application is received it will be processed within two business days. You will receive an invoice for tap fees, or system development charges (estimate your system development charges). The invoice will include applicable installation and labor fees and taxes.

Payment

We can accept payment in many ways:

  • Online: Use the account number and customer ID provided on the invoice.
  • Credit card by phone: Call 303-628-6100. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
    • Note: As of Nov. 1, 2016, a 2.25 percent service fee will automatically be added to invoices for tap sales purchased with a credit or debit card.
  • In person:
    Bring in a check or credit card to
    1600 W. 12th Ave.
    Denver, CO 80204

Step 4: Tap installation

Prior to installation of the tap, the service line, stop box and meter pit must be installed at the property. Please see requirements checklist. The installation must meet Denver Water's Engineering Standards.

Once the tap is made, you can contact the serving water distributor to arrange the meter installation. In Read & Bill and Total Service districts meters are set by Denver Water.

Helpful tips to pass meter inspection:

Step 5: Soil amendment inspection

Did you know before a newly constructed premise is landscaped, property owners must amend their soil with compost so the soil more efficiently retains water?

Don’t Need Water Soon

A stub-in permit is an option if you can wait on water service.

I just need a stub-in permit

Denver Water offers the option of a stub-in permit, which allows for the installation of a portion of a service line prior to setting a meter.

For new developments, a stub-in permit would allow the installation of services prior to the pavement or streets or placements of sidewalks. A stub-in includes a tap, a valve at the property line, a meter pit and yoke, and a service line from the tap to the meter pit.

Stub-in permits require an annual monitoring fee, which is assessed until the customer has applied for a water supply license.

Stub-in permits do not provide access to water.

I would like to complete a stub-in permit and exhibit A forms.

Other Questions

The following are frequently asked questions regarding new water service connections.

What should I do if my water service is shared with neighbors?

Option 1:
Purchase a new tap to serve your property. This will include System Development Charges for a water supply license and service line and meter pit installation. The service line and meter pit are owned by and installed at the expense of the property owner. This can be a very costly option but would allow for individualized invoicing and metering.

Learn more about purchasing your own tap: Inside Denver or Outside Denver.

Option 2:
Purchase a sub meter from a local water equipment supply company. This will allow for individual monitoring of water consumption but does not provide individualized invoicing. Denver Water does not bill water readings from sub meters and the property owner would be solely responsible for reading the sub meter.

What if I’m demolishing the current structure and building new (scrape-off)?

What if I don’t know if the property currently has water service?

Please contact a sales administration representative to assist you: 303-628-6100.

What if my situation is not listed or unique?

Please contact a sales administration representative to assist you: 303-628-6100.