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To keep water affordable and to encourage efficiency, Denver Water’s rate structure includes three tiers based on how much water you use. Indoor water use — for bathing, cooking and flushing toilets — is essential for human life and is charged at the lowest rate. Efficient outdoor water use is charged in the second tier (middle rate), followed by additional outdoor water use in the third tier (highest rate).

In addition to variable charges based on water use, the rate structure also includes a monthly fixed charge based on the size of your water meter.

Why are rates going up?

Our employees continue their around-the-clock work running a large, intricate system that spans 13 counties across Colorado. With major investments forecast over the next 10 years, we’re staying on top of upgrades and new projects needed to keep this system operating efficiently.

We are continuing our proactive and strategic work maintaining and replacing water mains in the street, building a new, state-of-the-art treatment plant and water quality laboratory, expanding Gross Reservoir, and replacing old, customer-owned lead service lines to protect our customers from the risk of lead in drinking water — while also planning for a future that includes more extreme weather patterns.

Bill impacts

We are slightly increasing the monthly fixed 2022 Water Rates charge on your bill to ensure we recover 20% of our revenue from fixed charges, which helps us even out our revenue stream over the year. This also allows for reduced reliance on revenues that are based on how much water customers use, which has become increasingly difficult to predict in recent years given more frequent weather fluctuations.

If you’re like most residential customers who have a 3/4-inch meter, the fixed monthly charge will increase 74 cents, to $17.20 per month.

Single-family residential customers who receive a bill from Denver Water, have a 3/4-inch meter and use 104,000 gallons of water in 2022 as they did in 2021 can expect their annual cost of water to rise by a range of $6 to $16.

Individual customer bills vary depending on where the customer lives in Denver Water’s service area and how much water they use.

Being water efficient brings benefits

We always encourage our customers to be efficient with their water use.

Using less water here means more water can be kept in the mountain reservoirs, rivers and streams that fish live in and Coloradans enjoy. And using less water also can lower your monthly water bills, saving money.

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In 2022, Denver Water will continue work on projects that are part of our 10-year, $2.6 billion investment plan. We are staying on top of regular inspections and monitoring, as well as the upgrades and new projects needed to keep the water system running.

Some specific projects include:

• Lead Reduction Program. The largest public health campaign in Denver Water’s history is reducing the risk of lead getting into customers’ drinking water. The program will replace an estimated 64,000 to 84,000 old, customer-owned lead service lines at no direct cost to the customer and is providing customers enrolled in the program with water pitchers and filters to use for drinking, cooking and preparing infant formula.
• North System Renewal. The north side of our system was constructed in the 1930s. Now, more than 80 years later, the north system is reaching the end of its life span. The renewal project includes building the new, state-of-the-art Northwater Treatment Plant, installation (completed in September) of a new 8.5-mile water pipeline and repurposing the Moffat Treatment Plant.
• Gross Reservoir expansion. This major component of our long-term, multipronged approach (including promoting water efficiency, recycling water and responsibly sourcing new supply) will help deliver safe, reliable water to the 1.5 million people in our service area today and the additional people expected to live here in the future. Additional water storage from the project will help prevent future shortfalls during droughts and minimize an imbalance between our north and south collection systems.
• Pipe replacement. With more than 3,000 miles of pipe in the ground, we are working toward a goal of replacing 1% of our installed water mains every year, or more than 145,000 feet of pipe.

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Denver Water’s commitment to sustainable practices, protecting our ecosystem and our communities was recognized in September 2021 by the national association representing the largest publicly owned drinking water suppliers in the United States — our peers.

We are honored to have received the 2021 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and we are proud to receive this award for the second time in four years.

Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill

Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons

Single-Family Residential Customers

Private Fireline

Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill

Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons

Single-Family Residential Customers

Private Fireline

Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill

Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons

Single-Family Residential Customers

Private Fireline

Monthly Fixed Charges, $ per Bill

Treated Water Volume Rates, $ per 1,000 gallons