January 2022 Windsor Matters Newsletter

THE OFFICIAL TOWN OF WINDSOR NEWSLETTER

WINDSOR MATTERS JANUARY 2022

WATER RATES EXPLAINED

A Breakdown of Water Rate Increases and Service Costs Water is a necessary part of your every day. From eating, drinking and cooking to flushing the toilet, running the washing machine and more, water is non-negotiable. At the same time, having clean water arrive at the tap is no small task. It involves collaboration across agencies, treatment, regular testing and hundreds of miles of pipeline that need to be inspected and repaired regularly to keep the system working properly. Equally as important are the processes of water leaving the home and street. This includes the wastewater sewer system which protects public health and the environment and the stormwater system which prevents flooding along streets and in neighborhoods.

Town staff, in conjunction with Town Board, are dedicated to making sure water continues arriving at your tap, so residents don’t have to stress over water rights, flow rates and the great deal of science that allows clean water to be a modern home convenience.

Water rates have been adjusted this year to continue to maintain our high level of service and keep up with inflation, increased water demands, aging infrastructure and more.

The Cost of Potable Water

Rates for Single Family Residential without a Dual-Use Water System 1st Tier $5.57 per 1,000 gallons up to 16,000 gallons per month

Monthly Base Fee

$18.62

+

2nd Tier $8.32 per 1,000 gallons up to 22,500 gallons per month

3rd Tier $12.40 per 1,000 gallons for over 22,500 gallons per month

Monthly Windsor Utility rates are increasing effective Feb. 1, 2022. Water rate increases will be reflected in the March 2022 utility bill.

Windsor Utility Water Sources Fort Collins and North Weld water comes from the Cache la Poudre River and Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) watersheds.

These districts collaborate with other providers to implement water quality monitoring programs for Horsetooth Reservoir and the upper Cache la Poudre watershed. These systems provide approximately 70% of Windsor’s water.

City of Greeley drinking water comes from waters in four river basins: Cache la Poudre (including six high-mountain reservoirs in the Poudre Basin), Laramie, Big Thompson (including a portion of the C-BT and Windy Gap projects) and the Colorado. In addition, storage in the plains reservoir system (Boyd Lake, Lake Loveland, and Horseshoe Lake) provides for peak summer demands. The City of Greeley treats raw water at the Boyd Lake and Bellvue Water Treatment Plants. This system provides approximately 30% of Windsor’s water.

THE COSTS OF WATER Potable Water Potable water—also known as tap or drinking water—is the water that enters your home and is fit for drinking. Water rates are increasing by eight percent.

The monthly rate increase goes into effect February 1, 2022 and will be reflected on your March 2022 utility bill. For an average Windsor household that uses 5,000 gallons of water per month, this equates to approximately a $3.45 increase per month.

Some of the factors that help determine Windsor’s potable water rates include the costs to: • maintain and repair infrastructure when needed • send water through treatment facilities for cleaning and safety testing.

Stormwater The stormwater system—also known as the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS4—is the collection of pipes, ditches, detention ponds and other conveyances that carry outdoor water runoff untreated into the Cache la Poudre River.

The MS4 matters because it: • directs water away from homes, streets and buildings • reduces flooding • decreases erosion • impacts lake and waterway conditions for plants, wildlife and people.

Windsor is designated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as a Phase II MS4. This designation impacts how Windsor manages runoff from rain and snowmelt on our streets, construction sites, businesses and other areas. By implementing stormwater regulations and processes, this helps to ensure the discharge of the cleanest stormwater possible. MS4 implementation and maintenance is covered by nominal monthly fees based on factors such as property size. Additional funds are collected from development fees.

Wastewater Wastewater is the water that leaves your home and goes down a drain and through a series of indoor pipes after use. Wastewater is directed from homes, using over 90 miles of sewer line, and is treated locally at Windsor’s wastewater treatment plant. Residents receiving wastewater services are charged a flat rate which goes toward the cost of collecting and treating water to Federal Environmental Protection Agency standards before it is released into the Poudre River.

The town’s wastewater treatment facility is nearing its capacity of 2.8 million gallons per day. Town staff are currently planning for upcoming facility improvements to keep up with water treatment demands.

A 10 percent flat rate/base fee increase for the sewer system has been approved and is set to be effective February 1, 2022. This amounts to an additional two dollars per month, or $24 per year, for residential properties.

Through its 2021-22 wastewater treatment facility expansion project, the Town of Windsor is working to improve current biosolids handling. This expansion will improve treatment processes and lower biosolids hauling costs by reducing the amount produced.