History

Columbine Water and Sanitation District was organized as a quasi-municipal government by Decree of the District Court in Arapahoe County in 1956. The District operates in accordance with Colorado laws pertaining to the formation, administration, and governance of special districts. As such, the District is governed by a five member Board of Directors, who are taxpayers and/or residents of the District. They are elected by the property owners and residents of the District to serve four year terms. The Directors are responsible for establishing policies of the District and are responsible for operation of the District’s sanitary sewer facilities. 

In the 1990s, in response to tremendous growth and the need for full time management and operation of the District’s expanding infrastructure, the Board considered a proposal from the adjacent Platte Canyon Water and Sanitation District to perform administrative and sewer maintenance services for Columbine. Rather than duplicate the services already being performed by Platte Canyon, the Columbine Board chose to execute an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Platte Canyon on January 26, 1999. Since that time, Platte Canyon has provided sanitary sewer operations and maintenance services and administrative services. Columbine is at its full development. As the District’s infrastructure ages, greater emphasis has been placed on managing and maintaining existing facilities in prime working order. In addition, as these facilities age, Columbine has been confronted with the need to rehabilitate and replace older infrastructure to ensure the adequacy and reliability of water and wastewater services to all of its customers. Replacement projects are funded by the District’s property tax revenue.

On December 6, 1994, Columbine signed a Total Service Agreement with Denver Water. Through this agreement, Denver Water owns the water system and is responsible for its operation, maintenance and replacement. Denver Water reads each individual customer’s meter and bills each individual customer at the established “Total Service” rate in Total Service Areas. 

On February 23, 1989, Columbine contracted with the cities of Littleton and Englewood for wastewater treatment services. 

The City of Littleton and the City of Englewood bills Columbine customers directly for the treatment services they provide.