Getting Water from the District
Must Be In Service Area
Non-District Member: Inclusion into District
Acquire a Tap
Must Be In Service Area
The District has a defined boundary that encloses a contiguous "Service Area" that has been approved per Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Lafayette, Boulder County Commissions, and filed and approved by the District Court. The District's boundaries are roughly those of Paragon Estates, Panorama Park, and Benchmark Estates and may be seen on this District Boundary Map.
Within the Service Area, a particular property may or may not be "Included" within the District. If the subject property is within the Service Area, then continue with either the "Non-District Member" or "District Member without Tap" processes described below. If the Service Area must be expanded to include the subject property, a much lengthier and more costly process is required.
2. Non-District Member - Include in the District
If you are not a Member within the District, you need to "Include" into the District before you can purchase a tap.
Complete an Inclusion Petition
To Include into the District, you must complete the Inclusion Petition, have it notarized, and send it with your check for the fees identified below and a photocopy of your property deed, a survey of the property or Improvement Location Certificate to:
President
East Boulder County Water District
PO Box 18641
Boulder, CO 80308-1641
Inclusion Process
The Board will schedule an Inclusion Hearing as part of a regular monthly meeting (including it in the agenda), and notify you of the date. You are not required to be present, but it may be helpful if there are questions about your petition.
If the Board decides it is in the best interest of the District to include your property, it will vote to include you.
After that, the Board submits the inclusion to the District Court for approval.
If approved, you receive notification saying that you are a member of the District.
If a Water Tap Permit Request is submitted at the time of the Inclusion request along with appropriate fees, the Water Tap is processed.
The Boulder County Assessor's office will update the property tax information, indicating the property is now a part of the District.
Note: The City of Lafayette currently has no restrictions on issuing water taps within the District. However, during the last drought the City placed a moratorium on new taps. The District can not guarantee the availability of a water tap from the City of Lafayette. The District will verify the availability of a tap at the time of Inclusion and notify the owner of said availability. It is the owner's responsibility to make the decision to acquire the tap at the time of Inclusion or at a later time, being aware of the potential unavailability of a tap at a later time.
3. Acquire Tap
There are a number of activities associated with obtaining a Water Tap within the District. Once a property is Included within the District, a Water Tap (assuming availability from the City of Lafayette) may be acquired. The steps include:
Complete the Water Tap Permit form.
You are required to complete a Cross-Connection Agreement before the District can approve the tap and turn on the water. This agreement says that you will not physically connect any other water source with the District's water system. This is a primary requirement of the City of Lafayette to supply water to the District.
If there is not a water main currently in the street in front of your property, you will have to pay to have the water main extended to your property line.
Pay the necessary fees.
Reimbursement Agreement when Water Main Extended
There are two circumstances when costs are incurred to the homeowner due to the need for a water main to be extended to provide water to an address.
You are First User for a new Extension
Your address is the first address needing water where there is no existing water main. The District makes provisions for the possibility that other customer(s) will make use of any extension you have had installed, by having all parties enter into a Reimbursement Agreement with the petitioner. Under this Agreement, the petitioner will be repaid some of the costs of the line extension on a prorated (by distance) basis.
2. You Use Someone Else's Extension
The District identifies if a Reimbursement Agreement is involved for the water main providing water to your address. If there is, the District will identify the amount(s) and payee(s) for the reimbursement of some of the costs they incurred to extend the water main. The reimbursement(s) must be made before water is provided by the District to the address.
Water Tap Acquisition and Installation Fees
You must pay: the District's and the City of Lafayette's Water Tap Fees (based on the size of the meter selected) plus the actual cost of installation of the meter pit before you can receive water. We will typically locate the service meter approximately at your property line adjacent to the water main. Within reason, we will accommodate other specific location requests for the placement of the meter pit, but there could be cost implications to the requestor.
After the meter is in, you can arrange for a contractor to make the service connection from the meter to the house (at your expense). Only a licensed plumber or licensed contractor may make the final connection, which must be monitored by the District's system operators. There are only two types of piping that may be used for the service line:
Type K copper pipe.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe conforming to ANSI/AWWA Standard C 901 (most recent edition), PE 3408 with a DR 9, pressure class 200. The pipe material shall be listed and approved for potable water in accordance with NSF Standard 61. A 12-guage single strand copper tracer wire must be attached to the service pipe with 2-inch wide PVC tape.