Why Pueblo West is facing water and sewer rate increases in 2025

Oct 30, 2024

Pueblo West residents are using less water but treatment plant costs are increasing and aged infrastructure needs replacing, prompting the metro district to again eye water and sewer rate increases for 2025.

The Pueblo West Metro District Board hosted the first of two public hearings on the rate increases during a Monday board meeting. As part of an independent water consultant's advice, the board has been implementing gradual increases to water and sewer bills each year since 2022 to ensure the district is able to keep up with costs.

Director of Utilities Jim Blasing told the board staff are proposing a 4.25% water rate increase and a 6.5% sewer rate increase. To put the increases into perspective, he said a customer using up to 5,000 gallons of water a month would see an increase of $4.30 a month, while customers using up to 10,000 gallons a month would see a $5.40 increase and users consuming up to 20,000 gallons a month would see a $9.40 increase.

Water Treatment Plant Manager Frank Mietus said infrastructure needs include a new $4.3 million north water storage tank, upgrades to the communications network, new media for disinfection filters, and a new chemical feed generator. He also suggested fencing at the treatment plant and updated security measures.

"Looking at the 2025 budget, one of the largest cost increases is going to be 8-10% for water treatment chemicals," Mietus said.

When asked if the foundation for the old north tank could be reused, Mietus said the old foundation consists of compacted soil without concrete, so the foundation for the new water tank will require a concrete base.

Utilities Operations Manager Robert Banham said Pueblo West water consumption decreased by 9% in 2023 and is "trending toward an 8.3% decrease again in 2024."

"Consumers are being more conscious about water saving," he said.

Deputy Director of Utilities Jeffrey DeHerrera told the board the district had enough water to supply an estimated 900 water taps, according to a 2022 analysis. He said 215 taps were sold that year, 185 were sold in 2023 and about 162 are expected to be sold by the end of this year.

If water tap sales continue at the current pace, "there will be no taps left by 2027," with an estimated 338 taps remaining, DeHerrera said. He said the water fund revenue "will go down an estimated $10 million a year without taps to sell."

Public comment came from Pueblo West resident Timothy Clement, and Board Vice President Joe Mahaney, who said he was speaking as a citizen, not a director.

"I know it (rate increase) seems pretty minuscule but I still object to it," Clement told the board.

Mahaney pointed out that 85 residents showed up at the board meeting three years ago to protest water rate increases and urged the board to make new residents pay for the growth.

"It's pretty obvious I've done everything I can to create controversy," Mahoney said. "People will pay $50-$60 to play golf but they bellyache about paying $15 for water."

"We will have another public hearing Nov. 12 and a lot of people tell me 'What's the point of coming and saying anything?' But you need to come out and tell us what you think — do we want to keep growing to what some people predicted would be 60,000 residents or do we want to prohibit growth?" Mahaney questioned.

At the 5 p.m. Nov. 12 board meeting, the board also will host a public comment session on the proposed 2025 budget, at district offices at 356 S. McCulloch Blvd, No. 103. A second budget hearing will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 9.

More Pueblo West news:Pueblo West Metro Board ponders changing swimming pool site, previews 2025 budget

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at [email protected] or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain atsubscribe.chieftain.com.