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FAQ List

1. What are the rules for planting new sod and seed? 
2. What are the fines for watering violations? 
3. What is the $20.00 operations fee? 
4.  How do I report someone who is violating the current water restrictions anonymously? 
5. I've seen watering on some of the golf courses. Why are they permitted to water and I am not? 
6. Is Denver Water going to offer any rebate programs this year? 
7. What does the average Green Mountain Water & Sanitation District customer use in a billing cycle? 
8. How can I reduce my indoor water consumption? 
9. I am a bank draft customer, but I received a bill with a return envelope in the mail. Do I need to update my information for the year again with your office?
10. I see some of your technicians out flushing fire hydrants. Why are you wasting water in the middle of a drought? 
11. What is considered water waste? 
12. Can I flush old medications down the toilet?
1. Q. What are the rules for planting new sod and seed?

A. Customers can plant a new lawn with either sod or seed. New lawns become established within three weeks after laying sod and four weeks after seeding. Customers may water every day for those periods, but they should keep the soil moist without over-watering. It is easier to keep the soil moist in cooler months, which is why we recommend planting in spring and fall.
2. Q. What are the fines for watering violations?

A. The rules and definitions of water waste have been expanded. Penalties for water waste have always been in effect. Even prior to the drought. The first violation gets a warning; the second costs $50, the third costs $100, and continued violation may result in suspension of service.
3. Q. What is the $20.00 operations fee?

A. The bimonthly operations fee is a fee that the District uses to help pay for our normal day to day operating costs. This fee was established a number of years ago to pay for these expenses rather than raise the water rates. Previously this charge appeared as the base service fee on the water bills. The rate is $10.00 per month. Green Mountain Water & Sanitation District is a nonprofit entity. We are debt free and do not charge a mill levy to our customers. We are making every effort to try and keep our rates as low as possible.
4. Q. How do I report someone who is violating the current water restrictions anonymously?

A. Please call our main phone number. 303-985-1581. By choosing option 2 on our automatic phone system, reported violations will be forwarded to our on-call or emergency personnel. Please leave details such as address of violator, time of day, and actual violation. Examples would be car washing, lawn watering etc. We do not need your name and phone number.
5. Q. I've seen watering on some of the golf courses. Why are they permitted to water and I am not?

A. Many golf courses have non-potable or non-drinkable water available to them. This is water from wells or irrigation ditches. Any golf courses not having this type of water should not be watering.
6. Q. Is Denver Water going to offer any rebate programs this year?

A. Rebates are in place for 2009. You can find them at Denver Water's website.
7. Q. What does the average Green Mountain Water & Sanitation District customer use in a billing cycle?

A. The most recent figures we have show the average customer using 20,000 gallons per billing cycle. If there were 4 persons living in the household this would equal 83.25 gallons per person per day. Denver Water has proposed a usage level of 59 gallons per person per day for the Stage 2 Drought Response. If the drought continues and reaches Stage 3 the usage level will be lowered to 48 gallons per person per day. This example is based on a winter use billing. Water bills for the summer months with outdoor water use would have a higher usage.
8. Q. How can I reduce my indoor water consumption?

A. The following is a list suggested by Denver Water for the Stage 3 Drought Response for reducing indoor water usage by 30%.
    • 2 less flushes per day ( regularly 5 per day)
    • 5 vs. 8 minute showers
    • -30% faucet use (regularly 8 minutes per day)
    • 2 less loads of clothes washing per week (regularly 7 + per week)
    • 1 less load of dishwashing per week ( regularly 2 + per week)
    • Reduce leaks by 50%
    • To 48 gallons per person per day from 69 gallons at normal use
    • Have you replaced your toilets in the last few years? Older models can consume up to 4x as much water. American Standard has donated 2 low volume toilets to our office. Contact our office for more information.
9. Q. I am a bank draft customer, but I received a bill with a return envelope in the mail. Do I need to update my information for the year again with your office?

A. All of your information for draft billing has been retained. Unfortunately, with our current billing system, we do not have a way to stop the return envelope from being inserted with the bill to customers using draft payments. Your bill should say "Bank Draft Customer Do Not Pay".
10. Q. I see some of your technicians out flushing fire hydrants. Why are you wasting water in the middle of a drought?

A. Hydrant flushing is necessary to help us maintain the quality of the water in the District's water mains. If the water mains are not flushed the chlorine levels used to protect the water going to your home can significantly drop. We are currently looking at different ways to capture this water, for different beneficial uses. Some customers have asked if this water can be diverted onto their lawns. With the methods being used to flush fire hydrants, precise control of this water is sometimes a problem. There is a chance of damaging existing landscaping on the property. If a homeowner close to the fire hydrant or blow-off requests having the water diverted to their lawn we will try to accommodate them.
11. Q. What is considered water waste?

A. Water Waste; Water shall be used only for beneficial purposes and shall not be wasted. Prohibited water waste includes, but is not limited to:
  • Applying more water than is reasonably necessary to establish and maintain a healthy landscape.
  • Watering with spray irrigation between the hours of 10:00 a.m.and 6:00 p.m.
  • Watering landscaped areas during rain or high wind.
  • Applying water intended for irrigation to an impervious surface, such as a street, parking lot, alley, sidewalk or driveway.      
  • Allowing water to pool or flow across the ground or into any drainage way, such as gutters, streets, alleys or storm drains.
  • Failing to repair, for a period of more than ten days after notice, leaking or damaged irrigation components.
12. Q. Can I flush old medications down the toilet?

A. (Don’t flush them down the toilet)

Proper disposal of prescription drugs continues to be a growing concern for water supplies, lakes and rivers and the wildlife in and around them. The State of Colorado has begun a new program called the Colorado Medication Take-Back Pilot Project. The Colorado Medication Take-Back Project is a network of secure boxes for the collection of unused and unwanted household medications.  The collection boxes can be found at ten convenient locations - eight on the Front Range and two in Summit County. 

Please use the following link for further information on this program or call 303-692-2903


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