At Little Thompson Water District, we care about transparency, and we’re here to make your water rates easy to understand. This page explains each part of your bill, including how rates are structured and what they cover. Our goal is to give you a clear picture of your water costs so you can feel confident in your service and informed about your usage.

What is in a rate?

The Board of Directors typically determines the rates for the following year in November and makes them effective in January. Public rates hearings are held at least 30 days in advance of the board approving a rate change, and community members are invited to comment publicly.

Base Rates

Each customer pays a fixed monthly base rate, determined by tap size and type. The base rate covers administrative and fixed costs. You can see your base rate in the rate structure PDF linked below.

Water Usage Rates

For all tap sizes and types, there is a monthly usage rate based on how much water each customer uses. Usage rates typically have three or more tiers, starting with the lowest rate for the least amount of water used and scaling with usage. The purpose of increasing the usage rate in the higher use tiers is to reduce excessive water use and to ensure that customers using more than their share of water are paying for it instead of distributing the cost to all customers. Water usage is measured in 1,000 gallons used. Determine your water usage tiers and associated rates in the rate structure PDF linked below.

What are surcharges and allotments?

Water allotments are determined by the tap size and type that was purchased when your home or business was built. Allotments are a fixed amount of water designated to your account annually. Because allotments are connected to the amount of raw water secured for that tap size and type, when customers go over their allotment, they are charged a surcharge for every 1,000 gallons used over that allotment.

Most of our customers DO NOT go over their allotment. However, customers who are concerned about going over their allotment can monitor their water usage with the EyeOnWater website or mobile app. If you have questions about your allotment, please contact us at (970) 532-2096 or fill out the contact form on our website. You can learn about the current surcharges in the Schedule C Miscellaneous Fees PDF linked below.

What are taps?

Each property that gets potable water from Little Thompson Water District has a water tap purchased at the time of development, most likely by the builder or developer. The taps come in different sizes and types, depending on the property's assumed water needs.

Currently, the District has five types of 5/8-inch residential water taps:

• Inside Use Only Micro-Home Less than 1,000 square feet (sf)
• Inside Use Only Single-Family Home Greater than 1,000 sf
• Conservation (Urban) Tap
• Conservation (Urban) Plus
• Standard Tap

There is also a 3/4-inch Estate Tap, which was introduced in 2024.

Each tap has a different water rate structure. Knowing your tap size and type matters because that determines your allotment.

2025 Rates, Fees and Charges

The following rate structure was approved by the Board of Directors at their November 21, 2024 meeting, effective January 1, 2025.