TOWN HALL OFFICE HOURS WILL CHANGE FEBRUARY 1, 2022
The Town Hall will be closed on Fridays and will open every day 8:00am - 4:00 pm Monday - Thursday The staff will be available via the phone at 970-921-4725 or you may send an email to crawfordclerk@gmail.com. There is a dropbox outside of the building that you can use to pay your bill or pay your bill with a credit card or your banking information at townofcrawford.colorado.gov
WATER DISPENSER IS NOW OPEN
Water Dispenser
The water dispenser is open and you may use "Cash Only" no more quarters. You may use $1 to fill your tank. The cost did not change. The Town will eventually have the "CARD" system set up and then you will have to go into the office to see the clerk and pre-pay for your water. This is only to protect the Towns water so that it will be available for everyone.
Conserve Water
WATER CONSERVATION IN EFFECT
CONSERVE WATER
As you may know, the snowpack for the last two years has been low to average. We are beginning to see the effects of the 2018 low snowpack and an unusually dry and windy Spring. The Town’s water source, a mountain spring, has seen declining flows over the last month. Water flows are now approaching historical lows seen in the late 1970’s and early 2000’s. We are asking all in Town and out of Town Water users to please conserve water. In the past, voluntary conservation measures have succeeded in maintaining sufficient water for household use and firefighting. Because of the decline in the output of the Town’s Spring this early in the year, coupled with the likelihood that water flows will decline as demand increases, the Town has implemented a new drought water usage rate. This rate will remain in effect until the Town, in consultation with the Public Works Director, deems these rates no longer necessary. See New Rates for emergency conservation below.
Please be conscious of how you are using water. If you have a leak, please have it repaired. If customers have high usage, they will be charged according to the new fees. If you have been advised by the Town about a leak and fail to repair it, your water service can be shut off until the leak is repaired.
Some tips for conserving water outside include watering in-ground plants in the early morning and water plants in containers in the afternoon. Leave your grass longer when you cut it, this helps to hold in the moisture and slows water evaporation. Add mulch around plants to help slow water evaporation. Here are a few more tips for conserving water around the home:
- Always turn taps off tightly so they do not drip.
- Promptly repair any leaks in and around your taps. (One leak can waste several thousand gallons of water per year.)
- Use an aerator and/or a water flow-reducer attachment on your tap to reduce your water usage.
- When hand-washing dishes, never run water continuously. Wash dishes in a partially filled sink and then rinse them using the spray attachment on your tap.
- If you have an electric dishwasher, use it only to wash full loads, and use the shortest cycle possible. Many dishwashers have a conserver/water-miser cycle.
- When brushing your teeth, turn the water off while you are actually brushing. Use short bursts of water for cleaning your brush. (This saves about 80% of the water normally used.)
- When washing or shaving, partially fill the sink and use that water rather than running the tap continuously. (This saves about 60% of the water normally used.) Use short bursts of water to clean razors.
- Use either low-flow shower heads or adjustable flow-reducer devices on your shower heads. (They reduce flow by at least 25%.)
- You can reduce water usage by 40% to 50% by installing low-flush toilets.
- Wash only full loads in your washing machine.
- Use the shortest cycle possible for washing clothes, and use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has one.
- Lawns and gardens require less than ¼ inch of water per day during warm weather. Less is needed during spring, fall, or cool weather.
- Water lawns every three to five days, rather than for a short period every day. In warm weather, apply 3/16 inch of water for each day since the last watering.
- Water during the cool part of the day, in the morning or evening. Do not water on windy days.
- Do not over-water in anticipation of a shortage. Soil cannot store extra water.
- Use shut-off timers or on-off timers, if possible. Do not turn on sprinklers and leave for the day.
The following Town Code outlines some of the measures that can be taken. To date, with water conservation help from Crawford’s water users, the only measure the Town has taken is to temporarily shut off the water dispenser to out of Town users.
Sec. 13-2-190. - In-Town users’ priority.
The Town hereby reserves the first priority for the use of its municipal water system for the inhabitants and water users located within the corporate limits of the Town and any additions thereto. Accordingly, in times of drought or other water shortage which, in the discretion of the Board of Trustees, threatens the capacity of the Town's water supply system, the Board of Trustees may take the following actions as it may determine best under the circumstances:
(1) The Board of Trustees may shut off service to rural water areas, the water dispenser or any part thereof. If the Board determines that it is not necessary to curtail all rural domestic water supply, it may order that taps be closed in reverse order of their issuance until the water supply for the Town is protected.
(2) The Board of Trustees may order the metering of water consumed by rural and in-town water taps and impose a graduated schedule of rates for water assessments increasing with rising consumption in a manner that will encourage water conservation.
(3) Action authorized by this section may be taken by the Board of Trustees by resolution setting forth a summary of the circumstances which the Board finds to require the imposition of such measures and, in accordance with Section 13-2-80, setting the rates for metered water usage as the case may be. In taking action under this Section 13-2-190, the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the Public Works Director, shall determine when conservation measures should go into effect, and their duration, to temporarily reduce the demand placed on the Town's domestic water supply system giving primary consideration to the following factors affecting the Town's domestic water supply and/or the capacity of the Town's domestic water system to deliver water:
a. The extent to which the Town's ability to fight fire may be compromised;
b. The extent to which the Town's ability to deliver water to in-town water users may be compromised;
c. The cause of the limitations on the Town's ability to deliver domestic water including drought or other circumstances of nature beyond the control of the Town and the need to make improvements or repairs on the Town's domestic water delivery infrastructure.
d. The ability of the Town to provide fair and adequate notice to its water users of the measures to be implemented.
(Ord. 4-1980 § 18; Ord. 2-2005 § 1; Ord. 1-2012 § 1)
A Surcharge may be added; A surcharge is a temporary additional fee added to the water bill in times of water shortage such as drought.
WATER RATES DURING A DROUGHT
- Implementation of Revised Water Rate. To encourage the conservation of water the Town of Crawford enacts the following Drought Water Usage Rate: Effective June 1, 2021.
RURAL:
5000 GALLONS: BASE RATE $(28.50)
5000-10000 GALLONS: $1.00/1000 GALLONS
10000-15000 GALLONS: $2.00/1000 GALLONS
15000-20000 GALLONS: $2.50/1000 GALLONS
20000- 25000 GALLONS: $5.00/1000 GALLONS
25000- 30000 GALLONS: $7.00/1000 GALLONS
30000+ GALLONS: $10.00 /1000 GALLONS
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
10000 GALLONS AT BASE RATE $25.90/$28.50
10000-15000 GALLONS: $1.00/1000 GALLONS
15000-20000 GALLONS: $1.50/1000 GALLONS
20000- 25000 GALLONS: $3.00/1000 GALLONS
25000- 30000 GALLONS: $5.00/1000 GALLONS
30000-50000 GALLONS: $7.00/1000 GALLONS
50000+ GALLONS $10.00/1000 GALLONS
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Water Dispenser Station
Our coin operated water dispenser station is open 24/7. However, Public works will only be available Monday - Friday 8-4 to make repairs to the water dispenser.
When inserting a coin you must wait to be sure the dispenser is working.
Please use one coin at a time.
If the water does not flow, the dispenser is not working.
Our water station accepts U.S. quarters only!
Please do not attempt to un-jam the coin operated dispenser.
If water dispenser is out of service please turn the sign that says the dispenser is NOT working.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
WATER/SEWER RATE INCREASE
Dear Town of Crawford Water and Sewer Customers,
This letter is to inform you of a substantial, recent increase in water and sewer rates that was approved by the Board of Trustees at the last Town Council meeting and Public Hearing (06/08/2022). The new water rates will become effective on July 1, 2022, with the August billing for July’s usage reflecting the change. The proposal for the increase was created by the Town’s Public Works Director, Bruce Bair, after weeks of research and consultation with the Town Clerk, Town Engineer, and Town Council. While the Public Works Director and Crawford Town Council regret the hardship these new rates will cause, without these increases the Town’s water and wastewater systems would not have sufficient revenues to continue to operate and be maintained.
There are several reasons for the steep rate increases. The two main reasons are for the Town to continue to be able to provide water and wastewater services while also funding necessary infrastructure improvements. This rate increase, while anticipated after approval of this year’s budget, was greater than expected due to increasing costs for materials, equipment, energy and personnel. The water and wastewater systems are currently operating at a deficit, relying on reserves from the Town’s Capital Improvement Fund, which was created seven years ago to set aside money for critical infrastructure replacement such as the new water storage tank that the Town and its engineer are working on to begin construction next year.
Besides the need for revenue to keep up with expenses, a major factor for the new water rate structure is an attempt to create a balance between sustainability and equity. The Town of Crawford looked at water consumption during the winter months to try and provide customers with enough water for household needs. The average water usage per tap in the winter months is less than 4000 gallons per household, and it was decided that 6000 gallons per month would be an adequate amount of water for household use, with a little extra for outdoor use. The tiered rate structure for water use after 6000 gallons is designed to encourage water conservation during this continued drought as well as shift some of the costs of the water system to those that use more water. The reality for the Town’s water system is that the Town’s water source, Wiley Springs, is flowing at diminished levels surpassing the lowest seen back in 2002. The Town cannot responsibly allow excessive water usage which can affect emergency water storage that is needed for fire protection and potential water outages from water main breaks.
Another reason for the large increase is that rate increases have not kept up with inflation. The last water and sewer rate increase was in 2018, before 2012, prior to 2007. If increases would have been done on an annual basis the recent rate increase might not seem so drastic. For example, water rates in 2007 were $17.40. The recent increase will now put residential water rates at $35.00, with $3.00 of this rate set aside for the Capital Improvement Fund. That equals a $1.17 per year increase for water, including a reserve fund that did not exist in 2007. The sewer fund has been similarly funded—in 2004, residential sewer rates were $18.60. With the new increase, the rate will now be $38.00, which includes a $3.00 Capital Improvement Fee. That equals $1.07 per year increase, including a reserve fund that did not exist in 2004.
Inactive water taps, whether the taps have been installed or not, will no longer be given a “stand-by” or inactive water rate of $5.00 per month. These taps will be charged the new base rate whether in use or not, to help support the operation and maintenance of the water system. This change reflects current Town Code which
states that “water rental shall commence upon the installation of the user’s tap or the expiration of sixty (60) days from the date of issuance.”
The new water and sewer rates, which start on July 1, 2022, are as follows:
Water
- Residential. All municipal water furnished by the Town of Crawford for residential purposes within the Town of Crawford shall be metered and delivered at the following monthly minimum and excess rates and charges:
- Minimum rate:
The first 6,000 gallons are included within a base rate of $35.00 per month (A Capital Improvement Fee of $3.00 shall be included in this base rate for the purpose of creating a reserve to pay for large water infrastructure projects). Water use that exceeds 6,000 gallons shall be charged at the following, tiered rate structure:
6,001 to 10,000 gallons $1.00 per thousand gallons
10,001 to 15,000 gallons $1.50 per thousand gallons
15,001 to 20,000 gallons $2.00 per thousand gallons
20,001 to 25,000 gallons $3.50 per thousand gallons
25,001 to 30,000 gallons $5.00 per thousand gallons
30,001 to 50,000 gallons $7.50 per thousand gallons
50,001 to 75,000 gallons $10.00 per thousand gallons
75,001+ gallons $12.50 per thousand gallons
- Rural (Residential and Commercial). All municipal water furnished by the Town of Crawford for rural, commercial and residential purposes outside of Crawford Town limits, shall be metered and delivered at the following monthly minimum and excess rates and charges:
- Minimum rate: The first 5,000 gallons included within a base rate of $38.00 per month (A Capital Improvement Fee of $3.00 shall be included in this base rate for the purpose of creating a reserve to pay for large, water infrastructure projects). Water use that exceeds 5,000 gallons per month shall be charged at the following rates:
5,001 to 10,000 gallons $1.50 per thousand gallons
10,001 to 15,000 gallons $2.00 per thousand gallons
15,001 to 20,000 gallons $3.00 per thousand gallons
20,001 to 25,000 gallons $4.00 per thousand gallons
25,001 to 30,000 gallons $7.00 per thousand gallons
30,001 to 50,000 gallons $10.00 per thousand gallons
50,001+ gallons $15.00 per thousand gallons
C. Commercial. All Commercial water furnished by the Town of Crawford for commercial purposes within the Town of Crawford, shall be metered and delivered at the following monthly minimum and excess rate charges:
1. Minimum rate: The first 10,000 gallons are included within a base rate of $38.00 per month (A Capital Improvement Fee of $3.00 shall be included within a base rate for the purpose of creating a reserve to pay for large, water infrastructure projects). Commercial water use after 10,000 gallons of usage shall be equal to residential rates.
Sewer:
The sewer rates for service on the Town of Crawford Municipal Sewer System shall be as follows:
Use of Property served Inside town Outside town
Single Family Dwelling, Mobile Homes, Trailers, Each Dwelling Unit $38.00 $47.00
Hotel and Motels- Manager Unit $38.00 $47.00
Hotel or Motel – Room No Cooking Facilities $6.00 $9.00
Hotel or Motel – Room with Cooking Facilities $8.00 $11.00
Bars and Restaurants $41.00 $50.00
Service Station $41.00 $50.00
Laundry Business Each Machine $3.00 $4.00
Car Wash $41.00 $50.00
Churches and Lodges $41.00 $50.00
Individual Business and Offices $41.00 $50.00
Schools $246.00
Business Operated In Residence or Resident Dwelling $41.00 $50.00
Crawford State Park $600.00
SECTION 2. A Capital Improvement Fee of $3.00 shall be included in this assessment for the purpose of creating a reserve to pay for large wastewater projects and infrastructure replacement.
Water and Sewer Tap Fees:
Water Taps:
Section 1. Water Tap Fee. The water tap fee for residential, ¾-inch connections with the Municipal water system within the Town of Crawford shall be the cash amount of $5,000.00, not including costs for the installation of the tap. The fee for 1-inch and larger connections, as well as commercial water taps, shall be at the discretion of the Public Works Director.
Section 2. Water Tap Fee. There is currently a moratorium on water taps outside of the Town of Crawford.
Sewer Taps:
Section 1. Sewer Tap Fee. The sewer tap fee for residential connections with the municipal sanitary sewer system within the Town of Crawford shall be the cash amount of $5,000, not including costs of installation of the tap.
Section 2. Sewer Tap Fee. The sewer tap fee for connections with the municipal sanitary sewer system outside the Town of Crawford shall be the cash amount of $7,500, not including costs of installation of the tap.
Water Dispenser:
The Town is also raising the rate on the water dispenser, which in the next couple of weeks will operate solely with prepaid cards that will limit usage, that can be purchased from the Town Clerk Monday – Thursday 8 am – 4 pm. The current rate for the water dispenser is $10.00 per thousand gallons. The new rate will be $15.00 per thousand gallons. In the event the Town’s water supply cannot support the dispenser, it will be shut off.
Thank you for your understanding in helping sustain the Town’s Water and Wastewater System. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Crawford’s Public Works Director at (970) 921-4725 or e-mail: crawfordpublicworks@gmail.com