Barbara Biggs, General Manager Roxborough Water & Sanitation District

Our number one priority is providing safe, reliable, great tasting water to the community. Which is why I am sharing with you what we are doing to monitor for emerging contaminants such as PFAS. There’s been a lot of media attention lately on PFAS chemicals being detected in drinking water. PFAS is an abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances which are manmade chemicals used in metal plating and a wide variety of consumer products including fire-suppressing foam, carpets, paints, polishes, and waxes. Nationwide PFAS is being detected in source waters near manufacturing plants using PFAS in their processes. Here in Colorado, [...]

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the how the drought is affecting the water levels in the Colorado River. With the reduced water flowing out of the Colorado River, it has lowered the water being held in Lake Powell to approaching the “dead pool” level. Once the water goes below this level, the hydropower plant cannot generate power. Millions of people will need to find an alternative power source for their homes. The lowering of the Colorado River is also affecting water levels at associated reservoirs. Boat ramps will not open this summer at Blue Mesa Reservoir. Lake Mead is so [...]

Every spring, the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District (RWSD or District) completes our annual flushing of the distribution system. Flushing the distribution system removes any naturally occurring minerals in the water that may adhere to the water pipes during the winter when use is low, thereby protecting water quality and avoiding any problems with discolored water (see the Hydrant Flushing FAQ at https://www.roxwater.org/faqs/ for more details). Flushing also provides an opportunity to test hydrants throughout our system to ensure they are in good working condition. We post electronic signs throughout the District well in advance of the start of the annual [...]

At the annual public hearing on rates on March 16, proposed rate changes were reviewed and approved. To continue to encourage efficient water use and conservation and cover the 2.5% increase in Aurora’s rates, the Board of Directors approved the following new water usage tiers and water usage increases:   Tier 1 0-5,000 gallons $5.30 per thousand gallons Tier 2 5,001-10,000 gallons $5.75 per thousand gallons Tier 3 10,001 - 20,000 gallons $7.00 per thousand gallons Tier 4 20,001 - 40,000 gallons $8.50 per thousand gallons Tier 5 40,001 gallons and up $13.75 per thousand gallons   This is the third [...]

With more and more residents installing tankless water heaters and filters, Roxborough WSD has started to receive more frequent complaints of sediment in the water. I thought I would share my personal experience. Two years ago my husband and I had a new whole-house humidifier installed. A whole-house humidifier works similarly to a whole-house filter except that it heats the water. We selected a state-of-the-art unit that cost $2,000. The manufacturer’s recommended maintenance included replacing the filter on the unit annually. Like a lot of people, we completely forgot to change the filter for about 18 months when the humidifier stopped [...]

In May 2022 it will be time once again to select new members for the Roxborough Water & Sanitation District’s (RWSD or the District) Board of Directors. RWSD is governed by a five-member Board of Directors (Board). All members of the Board must own property or reside in the District’s service area and be registered to vote in Colorado. If you’re interested in running for the Board, click on this link and download the “Self-Nomination and Acceptance” form. Fill out the form and drop it by the office or e-mail it to me at barbara@roxwater.org. You can also come by the [...]

Effective May 1, 2021, Governor Polis lifted the prohibition on water utilities, like the Roxborough Water & Sanitation District, for assessing late fees and shutting off service for past due accounts. The District recognizes that the last year has been difficult for a lot of people, and it is not the District’s intent to add to those difficulties. Yet, the District incurs all the costs associated with providing clean, safe drinking water and efficient wastewater services to the community and being a not-for-profit entity, does not have the financial capability to continue to carry past due accounts. As of May 1, [...]

Like most public water systems, annually RWSD flushes its entire water distribution system. Water distribution pipes carry water in an underground, “grid like” system, and each spring these pipes require maintenance. The main purpose of flushing is to rid the pipes of any buildup of naturally occurring, harmless minerals that have adhered to interior walls during the winter months. When the water consumption slows down during winter months, the velocity of the water slows, allowing natural minerals like iron and manganese to adhere in the pipe. To rid the pipes of those minerals we artificially simulate high rate, directional flow through [...]

At 8:00 a.m. on March 17, 2021, the Roxborough Water and Sanitation District’s Board of Directors will hold its annual public hearing on rates and charges. Staff will present our recommendations for rates at that meeting, but ultimately the Board makes the final decision.  Rate recommendations are based on several factors: Current year (2021) budget adopted by the Board in November Previous year actual financial results Extensive review of current fixed asset reserves and the District’s 10-year capital improvement plan. Some highlights from 2020: 2020 was a hot, dry year, and water use was up as a result. Average use per [...]

On Monday morning Roxborough Water and Sanitation District (RWSD) received notice that a water utility in Oldsmar, Florida, had suffered a cyberattack during which a hacker was able to access their supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system software and altered the amount of sodium hydroxide, a chemical routinely used in small doses during water treatment, to levels that would have made the water unsafe to use. We know that given the cyberattack RWSD suffered in August, we have a lot of trust to rebuild with the community, but we want to assure everyone that we have made significant improvements to [...]