FEES AND RATES 2024
The 2024 approved fees/rates are established by the Board of Directors - attached here. The water rate structure generally includes a capital fee ($257.00) plus a water service fee ($3.95) per 1,000 gallons of water used. The capital fee is billed to owners at the beginning of the irrigation season. Irrigation usage bills are based on meter readings and are sent to owners later in the season.
Q: What is a Capital Fee?
A: The Capital Fee (aka Base Rate) is not your irrigation water usage bill. The capital fee covers the repair and maintenance cost of the capital assets that make up the irrigation system. This includes ditch inlet maintenance, lake dredging, pumphouses, irrigation pumps, distribution pipes, new water rights, and required return flow infrastructure (back to the Poudre River system).
ACTIVATION
Non-potable irrigation water is activated by the Metro District in mid-April. Please do not attempt to activate your irrigation system prematurely. A notification is emailed to all owners when water is officially available for use. Water valves should be OFF until the Metro District sends a confirmation email. Owners are responsible for winterization of their own irrigation system at the end of the season and the meter shut off valve should be closed at this time.
CHLORINATION
It is important for owners to ensure that irrigation valves are closed and in the OFF position before activation, as the irrigation team will chlorinate the main water system next week to rid the main lines of algae, snails, slime, build up, etc. It is imperative that irrigation valves are closed and in the OFF position until an activation email from the District is received. Please note that the District is not responsible for issues that may occur as a result of the valves being left open during the start-up process.
WATER USE AND APPROVED WATERING DAYS
Healthy lawns in Colorado require about 1,000 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. feet of turf per week. Yards typically require about 21,000 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. feet of turf per irrigation season. Owners should avoid over irrigating throughout the season. The irrigation system should run before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. on your approved watering day to avoid evaporation loss.
Watering is not permitted on Sunday
WATER METER AND CURB STOP
All activations and deactivations of water service through a curb stop should be performed by District personnel only. The non-potable irrigation water meter pit and curb stop should be exposed and uninhibited by landscaping, rock, mulch, bird baths, decks or patios, etc. Costs associated with damage to the meter pit or curb stop may be billed back to the property owner. Issues with these units should be reported to the District office. Routine maintenance/replacement may occur throughout the season as needed.
WATER CONSERVATION
Residents should avoid irrigating their lawn when it rains. A Water Conservation Shut Down is a management tool used to save irrigation water after heavy rainfall. Irrigation pumps are shut off for up to 2 days when the community receives between .5 and .75 inches of rain and shut off for 2 or 3 days when rainfall totals exceed .75 inches and the soil is saturated.
The 2024 approved fees/rates are established by the Board of Directors - attached here. The water rate structure generally includes a capital fee ($257.00) plus a water service fee ($3.95) per 1,000 gallons of water used. The capital fee is billed to owners at the beginning of the irrigation season. Irrigation usage bills are based on meter readings and are sent to owners later in the season.
Q: What is a Capital Fee?
A: The Capital Fee (aka Base Rate) is not your irrigation water usage bill. The capital fee covers the repair and maintenance cost of the capital assets that make up the irrigation system. This includes ditch inlet maintenance, lake dredging, pumphouses, irrigation pumps, distribution pipes, new water rights, and required return flow infrastructure (back to the Poudre River system).
ACTIVATION
Non-potable irrigation water is activated by the Metro District in mid-April. Please do not attempt to activate your irrigation system prematurely. A notification is emailed to all owners when water is officially available for use. Water valves should be OFF until the Metro District sends a confirmation email. Owners are responsible for winterization of their own irrigation system at the end of the season and the meter shut off valve should be closed at this time.
CHLORINATION
It is important for owners to ensure that irrigation valves are closed and in the OFF position before activation, as the irrigation team will chlorinate the main water system next week to rid the main lines of algae, snails, slime, build up, etc. It is imperative that irrigation valves are closed and in the OFF position until an activation email from the District is received. Please note that the District is not responsible for issues that may occur as a result of the valves being left open during the start-up process.
WATER USE AND APPROVED WATERING DAYS
Healthy lawns in Colorado require about 1,000 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. feet of turf per week. Yards typically require about 21,000 gallons of water per 1,000 sq. feet of turf per irrigation season. Owners should avoid over irrigating throughout the season. The irrigation system should run before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. on your approved watering day to avoid evaporation loss.
- Even Numbered Addresses: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Odd Numbered Addresses: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Watering is not permitted on Sunday
WATER METER AND CURB STOP
All activations and deactivations of water service through a curb stop should be performed by District personnel only. The non-potable irrigation water meter pit and curb stop should be exposed and uninhibited by landscaping, rock, mulch, bird baths, decks or patios, etc. Costs associated with damage to the meter pit or curb stop may be billed back to the property owner. Issues with these units should be reported to the District office. Routine maintenance/replacement may occur throughout the season as needed.
WATER CONSERVATION
Residents should avoid irrigating their lawn when it rains. A Water Conservation Shut Down is a management tool used to save irrigation water after heavy rainfall. Irrigation pumps are shut off for up to 2 days when the community receives between .5 and .75 inches of rain and shut off for 2 or 3 days when rainfall totals exceed .75 inches and the soil is saturated.
2024 Non-Potable Water
| Residential Winterization and Blow Out Process |
| What is a Water Meter and Transponder |
| Irrigation Water Owner Guide 2024 |
| RDMD 2024 Water Rates |
| Water System Rules and Regulations, 2023-07-31 (Raindance) |
| Water Conservation Fact Sheet 2024 Final |
| Water Rate Fact Sheet 2024 Final |
| Water Use and Drainage Fact Sheet 2024 Final |