What are the line items for on my water bill?

• WATER USE CHARGE: Pays for actual water used and also pays for maintenance of more than 60 miles of water lines, and electricity for pumping of District- owned wells and water treatment.
• CUSTOMER CHARGE - WATER: Applies to the District's day-to-day water-related operations, including, but not limited to: (a) transporting the District's seasonal renewable water through Centennial Water and Sanitation District's water treatment plant to our District's pump station and water distribution system, (b) maintaining and repairing water infrastructure (e.g., water treatment plant, ten groundwater wells and associated pumps), (c) paying for the electricity required to operate the District's renewable water pump station, groundwater well pumps, booster pumps, and the water treatment plant, (d) adjudicating and monitoring the District's water rights, (e) water quality monitoring and testing, (f) funding the water rebate program, and (g) staff.
• CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FEE - WATER: Applies to construction and/or acquisition of water-related infrastructure including, but not limited to: (a) the ICPP pump station & pipeline, (b) groundwater well replacement, (c) Chatfield Expansion & Reallocation Project, (d) water rights, and (e) future renewable water infrastructure.
• WASTEWATER USE CHARGE: Pays for wastewater treatment at Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority facility, electricity for nine wastewater lift systems, and the operation and maintenance costs for our wastewater collection system that consists of 7.5 miles of pipeline. Charges are based on average winter water consumption, and are billed equally each month, regardless of montly water use fluctuations. 
• CUSTOMER CHARGE - WASTEWATER: Applies to the District's day-to-day wastewater-related operations, including, but not limited to lift station and sewage treatment operations.

What is a water budget and how is it calculated?

All CPNMD residential water customers have individualized water budgets, or allotments, that are based on a number of factors, including lot size. During the irrigation season, April through October, your monthly budget will vary depending on these factors which take into account historical anticipated rainfall amounts. This budget is designed to cover both indoor water use and irrigation. During the winter, all residents are allotted a budget of 5,000 gallons per month for indoor use.

Your budget determines the rate at which your water use is charged. Residents who stay within their budget are charged at the lowest rate per thousand gallons, or what we refer to as Tier 1. As you exceed your budget, the rate per thousand gallons increases through Tiers 2, 3, and 4. Water budgets are one of the means by which the District hopes to encourage conservation - the more you use, the more you pay. View the rate sheets for a full explanation of the water rates.

Each month your bill will show your budget for that month and how your actual usage compares to that budget. There is also a notation of the next month's budget so that you can plan your water use accordingly. You are only charged for the gallons you use.

In addition to the charge for actual water use, residents pay a customer service charge to offset metering and billing expenses, as well as a capital improvement fee designed to cover the cost of capital improvements and repairs to the existing water system infrastructure.

How are Wastewater fees calculated?

Based on the concept of what comes in as water must go out as sewage, residential wastewater rates are based on average winter water consumption. We use winter consumption because we do not want the water used for irrigation to be a factor. Irrigation water affects our storm drainage system but not the wastewater system.

Beginning in March of each year, water consumption for the previous December, January, and February is averaged and establishes the number of outgoing (wastewater) gallons for which you are charged over the next 12 months.

As with water, residents pay a wastewater customer service fee. The wastewater fee sheets may also be accessed at the link provided above.

Late Fees

CPNMD sends utility bills out monthly. Charges are based on the calendar month with meter readings being taken as close to the end of the month as possible. Late fees are not calculated until the amount in arrears is 60 days past due. Once a past due balance is 60 days old, a late fee is added to the bill and the customer receives a shut off notification letter. If payment is not received by the date indicated in the letter, the customer's house is posted with a shut off door hanger. Typically, water service is suspended within a few days after that. The District may elect to charge a re-connect fee to resume service, and will do so if requested to be done outside of normal business hours.