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Welcome!
Northwest Lakewood Sanitation District provides sewer services to approximately 4,000 homes and 500 commercial buildings spread over six square miles in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, and unincorporated Jefferson County. The District maintains over 65 miles of sewer pipeline and 1,400 manholes. The District contracts with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District to process over two million gallons of sanitary sewage (wastewater) each day prior to discharge to the South Platte River. On this web site you will find extensive information about the District including policies, fees, board meetings, contact information and advice on handling a sewer emergency. If you have additional content to suggest, please contact us. We hope you find the site useful and informative.
Recent News
2011 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTSThe majority of the 2011 Facilities Renovation and Service Fee (FRSF) funds were spent on a continuation of the Kipling Street Project that was begun in 2010. Sanitary sewer lines under Kipling Street have now been replaced between West 25th Avenue and West 32nd Avenue. Needed improvements are complete within the CDOT right-of-way for Kipling Street. The District is very appreciative of the public's patience shown during this complicated two-year project and thanks those who contributed comments, suggestions and general feedback. The only other project completed in 2011 replaced approximately 400 feet of sanitary sewer within an easement near 31st Place and Union Street. Even though the project took place in residential backyards, it was substantially complete in less than 2 weeks.
2012 PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTSThe District Board of Directors (Board) continues to plan for system renovations as sewer lines are determined to be inadequate or at capacity. Priorities are being identified through the District's ongoing, pro-active pipe cleaning and televising program. In 2012, several small sewer line replacement and/or rehabilitation projects will be undertaken to address areas of specific need. More specific information will be provided on the District's web site when the 2012 proposed project list is finalized.
2012 FACILITIES RENOVATION AND SERVICE FEEFor 2012, the Facility Renovation and Service Fee will remain at $150 per single family-equivalent connection.
DISTRICT FINANCIAL STATUS UPDATE
BACKGROUNDFor the first 55 years of its existence, the District relied upon its property tax mil levy to cover all operating and maintenance costs. Annual tax revenues were sufficient to meet these on-going expenses. With the exception of occasional minor adjustments, dictated by the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR Amendment), the mil levy has remained unchanged.
FACILITIES RENOVATION FUNDINGVarious studies show that the District's facilities are approaching the end of their useful life and require gradual replacement or renovation. The District's monetary reserves are not adequate to fund this major, multi-year project. In response to this situation, in the spring of 2009 the District implemented the Facilities Renovation and Service Fee, or FRSF, in the amount of $150 per single family-equivalent connection. Prior to imposition of the FRSF, the Board convened a citizen advisory committee to evaluate the situation. The committee reviewed engineering studies, solicited public input and ultimately supported the need to raise additional revenue on an on-going basis. The Board annually reviews the adequacy of funds collected through the FRSF.
INCREASING COSTS OF WASTEWATER TREATMENTThe District contracts with the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (Metro) for the treatment of nearly two million gallons of wastewater each day. The District and nearly 60 other special district and municipal "connectors" take advantage of the favorable economics of large-scale, centralized wastewater treatment offered by Metro. Metro's costs for wastewater treatment are increasing due to more stringent water quality regulations, the need for facilities construction and renovations and rising costs for equipment, supplies and personnel. Over the next 10 years, Metro faces an unprecedented increase in capital improvement spending needs, projected to total $1.3 billion. This is a 350% increase over the previous 10 years. The majority of these improvements are driven by federal and state water quality standards. Northwest Lakewood Sanitation District is obligated to pay its proportional share of these costs, as determined by the volume and organic strength of its wastewater.
FUTURE FINANCIAL PLANNINGThe District will pay 35% more in fees to Metro for wastewater treatment in 2012 ($1,186,644) than it did in 2011 ($877,022). While continuing annual increases of this magnitude are not anticipated, the District must prepare for substantial increases that will diminish the ability to pay for treatment costs out of mil levy revenues. Without an increase in revenue, FRSF income will increasingly be diverted away from important facilities renovation projects to pay for wastewater treatment. The District is now assessing the need for additional revenues. This could be accomplished through an increase in the FRSF and/or an increase in the mill levy. A mil levy increase can only be enacted through an election. The District tried this approach in 2008 to raise funds for facilities renovation, but the proposed mil levy increase was defeated. The Board still believes the best way to collect additional revenues is via a mil levy increase, as opposed to a fee, since property taxes usually qualify as an itemized deduction on federal income tax returns. The District will keep its customers informed of on-going financial planning efforts via this web site. |
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