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Welcome

The Rural Water Authority of Douglas County was dissolved in early 2026. To learn more about the RWADC and it's goals please see below.

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Established in 2008, the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County (RWADC)  provides a collective voice for rural water users in unincorporated Douglas County. Prior to this, rural well owners were not meaningfully represented on the unique and vital issues of the nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater resources on which they depend.

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The RWADC works to help provide an adequate, sustainable and reliable water supply for over 8,000 individual rural water users and 14 small water districts in unincorporated Douglas County. We are a nonprofit entity managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and are funded through donations. RWADC does not currently receive County or State financial support. RWADC is dedicated to assisting rural water users and providers in maximizing the life of our nonrenewable groundwater by the collection of data and through policy recommendations to its members and the Board of Douglas County Commissioners. Each Director represents either one of the County’s five rural water districts or one of three small water districts, shown on the map, and resides in that respective district. Special districts providing water services to large population areas are outside of our service area.

Our Purpose

The Authority assists in the assessment and development of water resources and systems, in whole or in part, for the benefit of rural water users and landowners within Douglas County. Special districts supporting large population areas outside of our service area are not included.

We serve all of unincorporated Douglas County, excluding service areas of special districts as stated above.  (see map)

Our Vision

Maximize the life of our nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater supply.

Our Mission

Assist Douglas County rural water users and providers to:

  • Evaluate current and future water supplies and demands.

  • Determine services and/or facilities that are of benefit to them.

  • Advise and assist other agencies on rural water issues.

About Us - What the RWADC Does

The RWADC was created to provide an adequate, sustainable and reliable water supply for the county’s rural water users. The Creation Agreement established the RWADC, initially with the support of Douglas County Government. It identifies a series of combined effects challenging the vital Denver Basin groundwater supply on which we all rely. They include:

  • Population growth

  • Growing reliance on Denver Basin groundwater as a public water supply

  • Periodic drought

  • Increasing need for water conservation

  • Variability in the Denver Basin groundwater supply across the County and declining water levels.

Produced in 2009, the video below discusses why the RWADC was formed and the challenges affecting the Denver Basin aquifers. It also provides an excellent overview of water supply issues and concerns we are working to address. Some information, such as District Directors, has changed in recent years. The key messages, however, remain vital to understanding the RWADC’s role in supporting the county’s rural water users.

View a short Video regarding the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County here:

https://vimeo.com/12058280/5b358cc32b

RWADC Functions and Services

  • Collaborate with other local, regional and statewide water supply agencies to develop water supply plans and conserve water resources;

  • Educate and inform water users on issues affecting an adequate, sustainable and reliable water supply;

  • Provide services or functions related to the provision of an adequate, sustainable, and reliable water supply to rural water users.

The RWADC’s Service Area is all the unincorporated portion of Douglas County (i.e., not within a municipality’s boundaries). It excludes the service areas of special districts that provide water and have not joined the RWADC as a Party or Participant.

The first Board was appointed on March 3, 2009, and Bylaws were adopted on November 18, 2009.  The Board elected its first officers on January 27, 2010. An important ongoing RWADC project is the effort to identify all rural well owners and small water systems providers who would benefit from our work.

See  “The Answers to 78 of the Most Common Questions” for more details about groundwater, water well issues, Douglas County policies, and the RWADC.

Board of Directors

Nine Directors govern the Board of the Rural Water Authority. Five are District Directors, three are Small Water System Providers and one is Director-at-Large. Board elections are held in odd-numbered years for four-year terms. The next election will be  in May 2025.

The first Directors were appointed by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on March 3, 2009, by Resolution R-009-048.

District Directors represent rural well owners within each of five districts in rural Douglas County. The boundaries of Districts 1 through 5 are shown on the Rural Water Authority Map. Each District Director is required to reside within their respective district. 

Elections

2017

The Board of Directors of the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County held a regular election at its Biennial Meeting on May 6, 2017. The following qualified electors were elected to positions on the Board for terms beginning in 2017:

District Directors
District 1 – Mary Lynch
District 2 – Jack Delaney
District 3 – vacant
District 4 – vacant
District 5 – Chris Kennedy

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2025 District Directors

District 1 – vacant

District 2 – vacant

District 3 – vacant

District 4 – vacant

District 5 – vacant​

2025 Directors for Small Water System Providers

SWSD 1 – vacant
SWSD 2 – Matt Collitt, Louviers WSD
SWSD 3 – Barry Gager, Thunderbird WSD

2025 County Director-at-Large

Tricia Bernhardt

2025 Board Officers

Chairman – Barry Gager
Vice Chairman – vacant
Treasurer – vacant
Secretary – vacant

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A map is available online to review the District Director boundaries.

Board Meetings

The RWADC Board of Directors  holds regular meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm. If a November meeting conflicts with Thanksgiving Day, the meeting will be moved up a week earlier.  No meeting is held in December.

Rural well owners and the general public are welcome to attend these meetings whether to observe, ask questions, discuss rural water issues or share ideas on rural water topics. The agenda for each meeting will be posted a week in advance on the Douglas County Clerk’s Public Notices page. You can view the archive of Approved Meeting Minutes below.

Important note: Effective March 10, 2020, Governor Polis issued a state of emergency restricting gatherings that could spread the risk for Coronavirus. Until this restriction is lifted, RWADC Board meetings will be held via phone conference calls. The dial-in phone number will be included on each meeting notice.

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Once the risk of Covid-19 has declined significantly, the RWADC Board will meet at this location:

West Douglas Fire Dept. Building, 4037 Platte Avenue, Sedalia, CO 
7:00 – 9:00 pm

In the unlikely event that a posted meeting location is unavailable, updated information can be found on the Public Notices page.

District Budgets

The District Budgets are available on the DOLA/DLG website:

https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicLGFilings.jsf?id=66210

Services

MEMBERSHIP

The Authority’s founding documents (creation agreement) define voting “members” as either Participants in the Authority or Parties to the original agreement setting up the Authority. Parties must be governmental agencies, but such agencies may join as a Participant instead, if they choose.

A Participant is defined as:

  1. Any owner of an individual well permitted for household or domestic use in the Authority’s Service Area. The Service area is generally defined as unincorporated (i.e., not within any municipality’s boundaries) Douglas County and represented on our map, or

  2. Any Small Water System Provider (less than 500 residences) that has executed a Participation Agreement with the Authority.

Membership Benefits

  1. Support the Authority’s efforts in determining Douglas County aquifer water levels via the US Geological Survey’s well-monitoring program.

  2. Represent and participate in regional water discussions.

  3. Possible development of water supplies and infrastructure to provide water to the Authority’s service area.

  4. Take advantage of services and assistance the Authority may make available within its service area on well construction, maintenance, and well water quality, to name a few.

  5. Your input will help to fashion the Authority’s programs for well owners and help provide maximum benefit.

  6. Vote for and/or serve on the Authority’s Board of Directors.

Other Important RWADC Member Benefits 

  • One voice on rural water issues

  • Education and communication

  • Credible information on water issues and plans

  • Resource and referrals for technical advice on wells and water

Withdrawal from the RWADC
Members can formally withdraw from the RWADC by filling out the petition for withdrawal form and forwarding it to us. 

Education

WELL OWNER INFORMATION

As RWADC Board members, we frequently talk with rural well owners throughout our service area. We’ve discovered a number of misconceptions about rural wells and our finite groundwater resources.

To address these issues and provide accurate information based on Colorado water law, we started a rural well newsletter email program in March 2016. Some topics, such as adjudication, are complicated. To create informative newsletters, we focused on clarity and brevity. To provide more detailed information, we included links to expert resources in each newsletter. Our goal is to help you maximize your well’s productive life. No Denver Basin rural water well lasts forever.

Since your well permit determines how well water can be used, the first newsletter focused on this often-misunderstood topic. Subsequent issues cover other important aspects of rural water wells. You can access them via the links below. More newsletters will follow in the future. Feel free to share these with other well owners. We also welcome your input on specific topics you would like to see covered in future newsletters.

Well Owner Newsletters

  1. Well Permits

  2. Well Water Rights

  3. Adjudication

  4. Well Water Quality

  5. Well Water Testing and Well Maintenance

  6. Well Water Conservation & Rainwater Collection

We welcome your feedback on the newsletters. Is the level of detail enough or too much? Are there water well topics you’d like us to cover in the future? Your questions, comments and/or concerns are always valued. Last, if you’re not receiving our newsletters and would like to be added to the subscriber list, please email us at info@rwadc.org. Or, send a letter to P.O. Box 359, Littleton, CO 80160-0359.

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WORKSHOP INFORMATION - PAST WELL WATER WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

Well Contamination Seminar
May 16, 2017 
Elaine Hassinger, Tri-County Health Dept. Water Specialist, discussed the sources of, and solutions to, well water contamination.

Adjudication Workshop
November 15, 2016
Sara Klahn, Esq., presented the pros and cons of well water adjudication.

Rainwater Harvesting Workshop
June 8, 2013
Detailed information on Rainwater Collection can be found under the Resources tab.

Aquifer Geology Detail

Denver Basin Geology and Background

Douglas County residents primarily rely on the Denver Basin’s underground aquifer system for their fresh water supply. This system has four water-yielding layers designated as the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe and Laramie-Fox Hills, shown below in two geologic cross-sections (CS). Comprised of sand and permeable sandstone formations, each is separated by layers of impermeable bedrock.

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Courtesy of Colorado Geological Survey

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The Denver Basin aquifers have long been an economical, quality source of fresh water for the county’s growing community. They are, however, defined as nonrenewable as there is no source of natural replenishment. Because water fills the pore spaces of these formations, scientists are unable to predict the behavior of the aquifer system as the resource is depleted.

Well monitoring data indicates that well production volumes and aquifer water levels are declining.  The Colorado Division of Water Resources, also known by its traditional name, the State Engineer’s Office, has a wealth of resources, data and reports about the Denver Basin Aquifers on its web site.  You can find an outline of the history and some of the intricacies of Denver Basin ground water rights on the State site, plus a detailed discussion of the water levels in the Denver Basin Aquifers.

The Colorado Division of Water Resources –  Denver Basin | Division of Water Resources (colorado.gov)

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Rainwater Collection

An Important Aspect of Water Conservation

Conservation is one of the most important actions the well owner can do to preserve the life of a well. To prolong your well’s life, you can augment your water supply with rainwater, which is a type of conservation.

On July 1, 2009, Colorado passed Senate Bill 09-080 allowing a qualified well user to collect rainwater. A qualified well user is someone who meets the following criteria:

  1. Property owner who has legal entitlement to a well,

  2. Collection of rainwater is only on residential property,

  3. Water is not available from a water district or a municipality,

  4. Rainwater collection is only from a rooftop, and

  5. Collected rainwater is only for uses allowed by the property owner’s well permit.

For qualified rural property owners with a well, the permit is free. To access permit information and find permit application forms go to: dwr.colorado.gov and click on the Well Permitting box at the bottom of the Services page.

Rainwater is an economical alternative to municipal water. It is low in minerals and therefore ideal for exterior uses and irrigation of sensitive plants. Its use supports conservation practice and when properly treated can be used for potable use.

Since aquifers are geologically diverse, water use in one area does not necessarily impact water levels in another area. Studies have shown that the most significant effect on well performance is the usage activity directly around the pump. This makes conservation the most important action the well owner can do to preserve the life of the well!

How do I capture and store rainwater?

Water collected from roof downspouts into a water barrel can be used for irrigation. More complex systems divert water to an above ground or underground cistern storage for household use.

How much water can I expect to collect?

Colorado’s rainfall distribution is quite varied. On average, Douglas County receives 14-16 inches of water per year. Each inch of rain produces approximately one half gallon per square foot. A typical home with a footprint of 2000 sq. ft. can harvest up to 16,000 gallons yearly.

Resources on Rainwater Collection

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Tri County Health 2008 Nitrate Study

In 2008, Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) completed a study of the impacts of aging residential septic tank and leach field systems on residential wells. The purpose of the research was to assess the nitrate levels in drinking water from residential wells.

Nitrate is a form of nitrogen, and is a common contaminant of sewage that can potentially seep through soil and impact drinking water in wells.  Of the many contaminants in domestic sewage, nitrogen, in the form of nitrate, is the most persistent and is most likely to reach the groundwater. Nitrate may be found in groundwater and surface water due to fertilizers, animal manure, natural sources, as well as residential leach fields. Nitrate is easily soluble in water and can be easily carried by water through soils.  Excessively high levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause health impacts, particularly in pregnant women and infants.

The TCHD study tested 295 residential wells in Douglas County on homes built prior to 1973 and served by both a well and a septic tank – leach field system.  The 295 wells were sampled for nitrate, hardness and hydraulic conductivity of the leach field. Several other factors that may have influenced nitrate seepage into the well water were studied, including distance from leach field to well, elevation of leach field in relation to the well, age of system, maintenance practices, soil type in the leach field, and depth of the well.

The results indicated many of the wells had elevated levels of nitrate, but only 9 wells had nitrate levels that exceeded 10 mg/L, which is the EPA health standard. The mean level of nitrate was 2.0 mg/L. A total of 101 wells had no detectible level of nitrate, which was defined as less than 0.3 mg/L. It was viewed positively by the scientists that after 35 years of use, almost one-third of the wells had no detectible level of nitrate in the water samples.

Interested parties should review the study map and read the entire report carefully, including all the limiting conditions, assumptions, test procedures, conclusions, recommendation and lessons learned. If you have questions or would like to discuss the report, please contact the DCHD via their website at Douglas County Health Department or by phone at 303-660-7400.

Another resource for information regarding private wells is the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.

Water Hauling

For residential wells that are no longer producing, one option is to physically haul water by truck to your location and replenish a storage tank, or at least until a replacement well can be drilled.  Water hauling involves storage and water delivery.

Stored water may need to be treated to make sure it is safe to drink from microbial and chemical contamination.

STORAGE – Storage can be above ground in a building or below frost-line.  Generally, the tank should be designed for potable water.  In addition to the tank and its connection to your household water system, you will need a pump to transfer the water from the storage tank to your pressure tank.

DELIVERY – Three potable water haulers are:

  • Water Boy: 303-838-3500
    delivery tank 1250 gallons
    water source – Castle Rock
    contact: Phil

  • Harrington Trucking: 303-428-6706
    delivery tank 2000 gallons
    water source – Arvada
    contact: Randy

  •  McDonald Farms: 303-442-6829
    delivery tanks:  750 gallons, 3000 gallons, 6000 gallons
    water source – Frederick
    contact:  Denver Office

Water Planning

​Water concerns became a high priority for Douglas County residents following the 2002 drought.  Dependent on nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater, rural water users recognized that maximizing the life of this vital resource by cooperating and organizing their efforts was essential. In response to this need, the Rural Water Authority of Douglas County was formed in October 2008.

The Rural Water Authority’s mission is to assist rural water users and providers to:

  • Evaluate current and future water supplies and demand

  • Determine beneficial services and/or facilities 

  • Advise and assist other agencies on rural water issues

With these critical water concerns, large water providers have pursued alternative water supplies and alliances to accommodate growth and reduce their dependence on groundwater supplies.

The Corps of Engineers, with local sponsorship from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, began investigating the feasibility of reallocating storage from the flood control purpose of the Chatfield Reservoir to joint flood control-conservation purposes under the authority of Section 808 (Water Resources Development Act of 1986); River and Harbor Act of 1958. The Chatfield Reallocation for water storage environmental impact study is available for review on the link below:

Omaha District > Missions > Civil Works > Planning > Planning Projects > Chatfield

http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Planning/PlanningProjects/ChatfieldReallocationStudy.aspx

Water Studies

​USGS Well Monitoring Study

In 2011, the Rural Water Authority partnered with the USGS to begin a well monitoring study to help determine the groundwater levels in the Denver Basin aquifers in Douglas County. The study’s primary goal was to monitor changes in the groundwater levels of these aquifers. Both manual and automated water-level measurements are collected from a network of 36 domestic wells within the county. The next report on the most recent study results will be released in 2019.

Financially supporting ongoing water studies is a major goal of RWADC. More than 70 percent of south Denver’s metropolitan area depends on groundwater. Rural homeowners depend solely on individual groundwater wells for their water supply. With the rapid population growth along the Front Range groundwater withdrawal has increased, resulting in declining water levels.

For more information go to: http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/co/nwis/gwlevels. You will also need Accessing Water Level data from NWIS web pub, and the NWIS site location list.

Site location list

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Denver Basin Water Availability Study

The USGS published a major study of our water supplies in 2011 called “Groundwater Availability of the Denver Basin Aquifer System, Colorado.” See http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1770/. A recent update for the years 2011-2013 can also be found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2014/5172/.

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South Metro Water Supply Study

In 2003, the South Metro Water Supply Authority commissioned a study to investigate water supply alternatives for the South Metro Denver area through 2050. More information is available by clicking here.

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WISE Water Alternatives Study

Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency (WISE) is a partnership between Denver Water, Aurora Water and 10 South Metro water providers to provide a sustainable water supply. After 9 years of planning and more than $50 million in infrastructure, Castle Rock began importing WISE water in April 2018.

Douglas County and the Grandview Estates Rural Water Conservation District have recently surveyed the district’s residents to evaluate alternatives to acquiring WISE water. A completed report is available here.

Resource Links

​State Water Links

We are working on updating these links. Thank you for your patience. 

Water Rights Resources

  • Water Court– Determines Colorado water rights, the use and administration of water, and all other water matters within the jurisdiction of the state’s water divisions.

  • Water Colorado – A Colorado water brokerage firm that provides helps individuals understand the intricacies and legalities of buying and selling Colorado water rights and what owning those rights entails.

National Water Links

Educational Resources

Douglas and Arapahoe County Municipal Water Providers

Let’s Work Together

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