FAQ
Who is the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District?
The District is a quasi-governmental entity that operates as a special district. The District is established under title 32 of the Colorado State Statute as a political subdivision of the State of Colorado. It is quasi-governmental because it is a taxing entity and has all the powers of a government entity except law enforcement.
What services does the District provide and to whom?
RWSD provides water and wastewater services to residents and property owners of Roxborough Village and Roxborough Park subdivisions, which are within the District boundaries.
Who are the people on the District's Board and how are they chosen?
The Board of Directors are your neighbors. All the members are residents and property owners of the District. They are elected by registered voters of the State of Colorado that own property or reside within the boundaries of the District. Directors are elected to staggered 4-year terms.
When does the Board of Directors meet?
The Board of Directors meets every 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8:00am in the Community Room at West Metro Station 15 unless otherwise posted. There are also special meetings scheduled when the need arises. All meetings are open to the public and are posted at least 72 hours before the meeting. Notices are posted at the District office, the Loaf ‘N Jug and at two other public places within the District.
Where are we located?
We are located in West Metro Fire Station #15 located at 6222 N. Roxborough Park Road at the intersection of Rampart Range Road and Roxborough Park Road. We are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We also have a payment drop just to the right of the main entrance for your convenience.
What is the difference between the RWSD and the Roxborough Park Foundation?
The Roxborough Water and Sanitation District provides water and wastewater services to the Park and Village areas and is a government entity organized and regulated by state statutes. The Roxborough Park Foundation is a non-government entity, non-profit private organization, property owners association that provides parks and recreation, trash removal, snow removal, roads and covenant control to the property owners in the Park.
What is the difference between the RWSD and the Roxborough Village Metropolitan District?
The Roxborough Water and Sanitation District provides water and wastewater services to the Park and Village. The Roxborough Village Metropolitan District provides streets, lighting, parks and recreation, mosquito control and drainage services to the Village area. Both are governmental entities organized and regulated by state statutes.
What number do I call if I have a water or wastewater emergency?
If it truly is an emergency – call 911. If a water or wastewater emergency occurs such as an outside line break, call the District office at 303-979-7286. If the emergency occurs after hours, again call 303-281-9338 for direction to the District’s 24-Hour Emergency Answering Service. Please keep in mind that if the problem is within your home, you should call a plumber.
What is the District's responsibility regarding water and sewer lines?
The District owns, operates, maintains and repairs all water and sewer main lines. Main lines are large pipelines generally located in streets or open spaces, which serve more than one residence or facility. The homeowner is responsible for the service line beginning at their property line to and throughout their home.
Where do we get our water?
When the District purchased the 1958 vintage water plant from the City of Aurora in 1972, it also obtained a water agreement for 50 years. Aurora has a diversion pipe at Strontia Springs Reservoir (6 miles up Waterton Canyon on the South Platte River). From that point, it is piped to the Aurora Rampart Reservoir which is just southeast of the Fire Station entrance to Roxborough State Park. The District, by pipeline, takes the water from the reservoir to the District water plant for treatment, whereby it is delivered to the area. The District uses no ground water in its water supply. The District’s water treatment is regulated by the Colorado State Department of Health.
What could cause my water consumption to be higher than usual?
First, check for a possible leak inside your home. The most common causes of leaks are dripping faucets or toilets. You can get toilet tank leak detector tablets or place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. If your toilet is not leaking, the next most likely reason may be an outside leak or lack of efficient water use, possibly outside irrigation. The best way to determine if your irrigation system is leaking is by looking at your lawn. If you notice wet spots or pooling of water around your spray heads, this is a good indication that your irrigation system has a leak. If you have a layout of your irrigation system, start tracking the lines to determine the exact location.
If I suspect a leak, how do I confirm it?
If you suspect a leak, the easiest way to confirm is to check the reading on your meter by taking the following steps:
- Make sure all faucets and water-using appliances, inside and out, are turned off. Leave the master valve open.
- Check the reading on your meter. Your water meter is located in the basement or in some of the older homes it may be located outside in a meter pit. There is a small dial, which moves clockwise.
- If there is no water being used inside or outside the home and the meter continues to move or “creep” it is often indicative of a leak or drip somewhere in your home’s water system.
If the drought is over why are we having watering restrictions?
There are four reasons Roxborough Water & Sanitation District enforces watering restrictions. First, they allow the District to extend the life of the existing Water Treatment Plant by holding down the peak capacity needed at the height of summer usage. Second, they help the community to be morally conscious of the limited natural resource that water is. They also help reduce the total amount of water the District will need to develop/purchase resulting in millions of dollars in savings to the community. Lastly, the District is bound by the City of Aurora, where we get our water, to adhere to, at a minimum, the water restrictions they impose on all their customers.
Will the water situation affect the value of my home?
The District’s number one goal is to make sure property values are enhanced by planning and developing a long term water plan. The community does not use ground water for its customers. The District’s service contract with the City of Aurora is an ongoing negotiation which is in progress. It is active in working with other South Metro Area water providers to develop renewable water supplies for the South Metro Area. The District has purchased a small amount of water and is pursuing additional water as it becomes available.
What is the future of our water?
The District’s preferred plan is to negotiate a perpetual arrangement with the City of Aurora for the water needed to serve the community and with Aurora’s assistance, negotiate with Denver Water for water treatment service. This goal would allow for the District to get out of the water treatment business, obtain a water supply without having to build millions of dollars’ in infrastructure to deliver water from another source and stabilize service costs to District customers by becoming a customer of Denver Water’s million-plus customer base.
How can I water my lawn while still meeting the water conservation requirements?
An easy way to conserve is to water early in the morning to prevent excessive evaporation. You can also use a sprinkler that makes large drops to ensure that your yard gets the water it needs to flourish under the restrictions. Watering can also be reduced by selecting low water demanding plants. Xeriscape such as native plants, perennials and bushes can not only reduce your water bill, but add a lot of color to your yard.
How can the district read my water meter when nobody comes to my house?
Where your water meter is located, there is a radio-frequency device that can be read when we drive by. If, for any reason, the signal doesn’t work, we will get a “physical” read at which point, we will ask the homeowner to read the dial to us over the phone or we may need to make an appointment to get inside. If we cannot get a read at all (bad signal, dead battery, etc.), we will estimate the usage according to the average at that property as well as the District’s average for that billing period. If we estimate, we will put that property on a “repair list” and make an appointment to repair or replace the meter before the next billing.
Does RWSD provide water outside the District?
No, the District only provides water services to residents/businesses within the District’s boundaries. Wastewater-only services are provided outside the District to the Ravenna Development.
Why is my water usage the same as last time? Did you estimate it?
Most households are pretty consistent in their use of indoor water usage for bathroom, laundry, kitchen, etc., which can make overall use very similar. We read to the nearest 1,000 gallons and round down accordingly. Example: if the last reading was 5,000 gallons and this time it's 5,700 - the read will be 5,000. Summer is the perfect time to keep a close watch on your monthly water totals.
How much does water consumption totals change due to outdoor usage?
Many residents have made water-efficient adjustments and still have beautiful landscapes.
If you get water from the city of Aurora, why do you bill us for it?
We purchase raw water from the City of Aurora, but we have to treat the water to make it consumable and distribute it to the community. Residents share the cost for these services. If you have any questions about your bill or need other information, like getting new sod permits, please call our office.