The Summit County Water Augmentation Program contract pricing is a one-time fee that is calculated based on a number of variables including: 

• If the residence is attached to central sewer or a septic tank/leach field system
• How much water will be used
• The purpose of the water being used
• The area in which the residence is located

Our office will assist in calculating these fees for your specific Water Augmentation Contract using the below contract pricing charts:

Contract Pricing for Bill’s Ranch
Contract Pricing for All Other Areas

Contract Pricing Categories

Section 1: Single Family Residence Use

Wells that have been permitted through the State of Colorado for indoor use only in a single-family residence are typically considered to be exempt from water rights administration. This exemption is governed by state statutes. When you enter into a contract for water augmentation, your well loses its exempt status.

In more detail, the exempt status granted by the State allows that a well that is for indoor use only of a single-family residence can continue to operate even when the stream system tributary to the well is under administration by a senior calling water right. Without this exempt status, either the operation of the well would be curtailed, or the associated depletive impact would have to be augmented with a replacement supply. When the water diversions from an exempt well are applied to uses beyond the indoor use single-family residence limitation, the well loses its exempt status and now all diversions through the well are subject to water right administration, including the indoor use single-family residence.

Septic Tanks, Leach Field Systems, and Central Sewer

In short, septic tank/leach field systems are assumed to be less efficient than a central sewer system – meaning more water is consumed. The County’s water supply contract pricing is based on how much water is used and not returned to the stream and there needs to be replace – in other words, the portion of the well users diverted supply that is depletive to the stream system and would therefore require augmentation. The consumptive portions of the water supply contract represent the total depletive impact to the stream and are therefore greater for septic tank/leach field systems.

More specifically, the County’s plan for augmentation decreed by the Water Court defines the consumptive use rate as 10% of the total diversion for a septic tank / leach field system. By comparison, the plan defines the consumptive use rate associated with a central sewer system as 5% of the total diversion. The augmentation supply needed to replace depletions for a well user connected to a septic tank / leach field is therefore greater than the augmentation supply needed to replace depletion for a well user connected to a central sewer system.

By way of example, the County’s plan for augmentation defines the water demand for a Single Family Residence as 0.314 AF/year. If that residence were connected to a septic tank / leach field, the consumptive use would be 0.031 AF/year (0.314 AF/year * 10%). However, if that residence were connected to a central sewer, the consumptive use would be 0.016 AF/year (0.314 AF/year * 5%).

Section 2: Accessory Unit

An accessory unit is a second, subordinate dwelling unit located on the same lot as your single family dwelling unit, and the where the subordinate unit is incorporated into either the primary unit or a garage serving the primary unit, and the subordinate unit has separate cooking facilities from the primary unit. If you are planning to build an Accessory Unit, this section of the Contract Pricing will be included in your Water Supply Contract. The cost will vary depending on if your single family dwelling is on a septic tank/leach field system or central sewer, as explained above. Find more information about Accessory Dwelling Units. 

Section 3: Landscaping Irrigation

If you plan to use the water from your well for any outdoor irrigation, like watering plants, trees, shrubs, grass, or any other outdoor use, you will need to estimate the approximate square footage of land that you intend to irrigate, and based on that square footage, there is a corresponding charge to be included in your Water Supply Contract. 

Section 4: Domestic Livestock

Depending on where you live in the County, you may be able to have domestic livestock on your land. If you can, and you plan to use water from your well to wash, water, or for any other use related to those animals, there is a charge for each head of livestock (each separate animal) to be included in your Water Supply Contract. Find more information about livestock in Chapter 3: Zoning Regulations of the Summit County Land Use & Development Code.