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Plans to increase water rates over the next 10 years will also cover capital projects that Glenwood Springs has planned during that time, Public Works Director Matthew Langhorst said.
City officials are proposing to raise water rates an average of 36.8% per user on July 1, followed by 5% increases annually for the next nine years. That would generate $36 million.
For a resident who uses 2,000 gallons, their monthly water and wastewater bill is currently $85.41. With the water rate hike, their bill would increase by $18.71 per month.
“The annual operating costs for the Water and Wastewater Department in total is around $4.1 million dollars a year,” Langhorst said.
Glenwood Springs city officials are proposing to raise water rates an average of 36.8% per user on July 1, then a 5% increase per year for the next nine years.
Public Works Director Matthew Langhorst said the plan to increase water rates over the next 10 years is necessary to generate $36 million for water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades.
Langhorst said proposed rate increases this year are 51% for water rates and 26% for sewer rates.
“We just need to catch back up in one lump sum here,” he added.
Langhorst said the city discovered the water and wastewater pipes to be in poor condition in 2019.
The city also needs to update the pipes to accommodate higher water usage needs resulting from changing environmental conditions and wildfire.
Infrastructure improvements associated with Glenwood Springs waterworks system brought on in part by last summer’s Grizzly Creek Fire will likely mean multiple years of increasing water and sewer rates for customers.