Castle Rock – Building a home in Castle Rock may soon cost more, but the higher price ensures a reliable water supply at reasonable rates for generations to come, according to a long-term water plan to be presented today.
Town officials will unveil their strategy to reduce the town’s dependence on dwindling, finite aquifers and switch to renewable sources, a plight facing most south metro communities. The plan will be presented in a joint meeting with Douglas County commissioners.
But to help pay for the switch, the water hookup fee for new homes and businesses could more than double, jumping $12,000 from the current total of $11,100, said Ron Redd, Castle Rock’s utility director.
“We realize that’s a pretty big hit in the short term for our business community,” he said, adding that the town would probably phase in the increases.
Castle Rock’s water fees will be lower than what some neighboring communities charge, and its long- range water plan will ultimately prove a bargain, Redd said.
The deep, ancient aquifers that supply south metro are falling by an estimated 30 feet a year, forcing water providers to dig new or deeper wells every few years. Castle Rock predicts it would spend $250 million over the next 50 years to continue chasing a dwindling supply.
The town hopes to store water in Parker’s future Rueter-Hess Reservoir, an expansion that will get its first public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the North Water Reclamation Plant in Parker, followed by a meeting Wednesday at the same time at the Douglas County Administration Building in Castle Rock.
The Town Council still must approve the outlines of the long-range water plan, which was developed over the past year by dozens of Castle Rock residents, business leaders and town staff. The Town Council will work on a plan at a work session Tuesday.
Environmentalists have lauded Castle Rock for taking specific steps to head off looming shortages without draining mountain rivers. The town’s plan focuses heavily on curbing customers’ water use, as well as recycling wastewater.
“I think it’s excellent,” said Commissioner Steve Boand, who has seen a draft of the proposal.
“It lays out a specific plan, it provides a time frame in which they’re going to operate, and they include the costs they expect to incur.”
Boand has taken a lead in regional water issues since joining the commission last year and hopes other Douglas County communities will follow Castle Rock’s example.
“It’s a great model,” he said.
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
