Increased Water Rates Support a Resilient Water System and New Quality Standards

Water Tiers Made Clear 

In Thornton, water tiers are used to provide a water budget for a range of lot sizes and encourage efficient use of Thornton’s water supply.  

Learn more about your monthly bill by checking out the following resources: 

• Your utility bill DeMISTified for inside city limits customers. 
  • Your utility bill DeMISTified for inside city limits customers en Español.

• Your utility bill DeMISTified for outside city limits customers.
  • Your utility bill DeMISTified for outside city limits customers en Español. 

Why Are Water Rate Increases Needed?

This water rate increase is crucial for us to continue providing clean and reliable drinking water to our community. Ongoing investments in our infrastructure and water treatment technologies, along with keeping up with rising costs due to inflation, are critical to maintaining Thornton’s water system.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new limits for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) compounds in drinking water in April 2024. Since then, the city of Thornton has been optimizing its operations and planning treatment improvements to stay in compliance with these regulation limits. To support these efforts, the Water Quality Laboratory has invested in new equipment to analyze PFAS compounds in-house with the help of grants from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment – $110,000 to improve PFAS removal processes and $100,000 to help purchase the PFAS detection equipment. The city is also in the pre-design phase for centralized treatment upgrades at the Thornton Treatment Plant to remove PFAS. Have more questions about PFAS? Check out the city of Thornton PFAS Information page for updates and frequently asked questions.

2024 also marks the beginning of the largest changes to the Lead and Copper Rule for drinking water in more than 30 years. Thornton is nearing completion of a system-wide lead service line inventory, and thankfully, no lead service lines have been found to date. To ensure the ongoing safety of our most vulnerable populations, Thornton is testing for lead and copper in schools and childcare facilities. The city will partner with these facilities to ensure they are tested regularly in the next five years. Learn more about this effort in our lead monitoring Waterblogged post.

Where Do Connection Fees Fit In? 

City Council has also approved an increase in connection fees for new development. Thornton Water is a cost-of-service enterprise, meaning water rates pay only for the costs of providing clean, reliable water to our customers. Connection fees for new developments in the city, which aren’t part of monthly rates, are paid at the time of development and cover the cost of expanding the water system to service the new properties. To continue meeting the needs of these new properties, the increase in connection fees addresses inflation and the rising costs of water rights, along with the increased costs associated with expanded monitoring and treatment infrastructure to remove PFAS and other contaminants.

The connection fee increase is intended to be equitable for smaller lots, with new fees for lots under 5,000 square feet reflecting lower outdoor water use. This structure helps promote higher-density development and supports housing affordability by passing the lower connection fees on to the buyers of the new properties. In addition, multi-family fees are based on water use per dwelling unit to ensure fair and proportionate costs compared to single-family homes.

City Sustainability Efforts to Improve Water Efficiency

Every step our community takes to save water reduces energy and water treatment costs by lowering the demand on water treatment facilities. The water use at city-owned and maintained properties is monitored and managed to improve efficiency. 

Thornton maintains over 600 acres of public parks. New parks being constructed in Thornton have low water demand landscapes, with traditional high-water using turf being limited to areas of high use such as sports fields and gathering spaces. Landscape conversions at existing parks are being planned which will keep high water demand turf in areas that are necessary, and low-water demand landscapes will be installed in areas with low foot traffic. To date, 30 acres of low-water demand turf, such as native grass mixes and other turf varieties, have replaced bluegrass to cut the water demand of those areas in half. Irrigation systems are consistently evaluated and improved to save water.

In addition, city building water use is monitored for leaks and high water use so these issues can be fixed quickly. Toilets and faucets have also been upgraded to water-efficient models over the years. 

If you notice a leak or other water waste on a city property, please report it to water@thorntonwater.com or 720-977-6600.

What Resources Are Available to Me?

Being water-wise indoors and outdoors is the best way to reduce your water usage and lower your water bill. Check out these pages on our website to learn about water-saving resources and tips that may help lower your utility bill:  

• The residential rebates and commercial rebates pages for programs and services available to Thornton Water customers. 
• Visit the Saving Water Outdoors page for smart watering practices and water-wise options for your outdoor spaces. 
• Visit the Saving Water Indoors page for ways to understand and reduce your utility bill by becoming a more efficient water user. 
• Check out the H2Overhaul page for a step-by-step guide to transforming your thirsty lawn into a water-wise oasis. 

In need of more ways to save on your utility bill? The Thornton Water Assistance Program helps income-qualified individuals and families pay their water bills. You can apply for this program once a year if you are a resident living in an apartment complex, manufactured home community, condominium or townhome that receives water through the city of Thornton. Visit the Thornton Water Assistance Program page to learn more and to apply for this program.