Broomfield City Council has scheduled a public hearing and final reading Tuesday for a tiered water rate proposal that aims to encourage conservation.
The proposal also includes water and wastewater fee increases for fixed monthly water charges.
Under the current system, residents pay $3.36 per 1,000 gallons, and that rate stays the same, regardless of how much water a household uses each month.
Under the proposed tier system, the following rates would apply:
- Homes that use 1,000 to 5,000 gallons each month: $2.26 per 1,000 gallons;
- Homes that use 5,001 to 20,000 gallons each month: $3.33 per 1,000 gallons;
- Homes that use more than 20,000 gallons each month: $4.52 per 1,000 gallons.
“The fixed monthly water charges will also increase for a single family customer from the current $10.47 to $14.31 per month,” a City Council memo read.
The fee increases “will help ensure the financial stability of the utilities through the collection of revenue sufficient to recover operating costs, finance capital improvement projects, and maintain the fund balance at policy level, now and into the future,” the memo read.
Proposed monthly sewer service charges for residents:
- 2023 - The greater of: $3.63 per 1,000 gallons, or $14.52 per dwelling unit;
- 2024 - The greater of: $3.78 per 1,000 gallons, or $15.12 per dwelling unit;
- 2025 - The greater of: $3.93 per 1,000 gallons, or $15.72 per dwelling unit;
- 2026 - The greater of: $4.05 per 1,000 gallons, or $16.20 per dwelling unit;
- 2027 - The greater of: $4.17 per 1,000 gallons, or $16.68 per dwelling unit.
In a study session held Tuesday, City Council looked at the impact of drought on the Colorado River basin. The basin, which is gradually decreasing, supplies around 80% of Broomfield’s water, and the city and county needs to “take steps to reduce water consumption before it becomes a mandatory requirement,” said Ken Rutt, Broomfield’s deputy director of public works, during the study session. The tiered rate proposal aims to reduce water use.
The Broomfield City Council public hearing and final reading is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the George Di Ciero City and County Building, 1 DesCombes Drive.
