Castle Rock water staff to begin charging $1,500 fee for expedited sidewalk "chase drain" installations

Castle Rock Water officials told the Town Council on May 20 that the utility will change how it handles homeowner requests for sidewalk ‘‘chase drains,’’ small metal drains installed in sidewalks to control persistent dry‑weather groundwater.

The town’s water operations manager, Mark Marlow, said the current program (in place since 2008) requires town staff to monitor a site for a year before approving and paying for an installation; Castle Rock Water has funded about 72 approved chase drains to date at an average installed cost of roughly $4,500 each. Marlow told council the most common causes of the recurring water flows are perched groundwater, overwatering and sump pumps, and that chase drains perform poorly for winter ice control.

Marlow said staff proposes to continue site visits, leak checks and irrigation evaluations but to offer a paid, expedited option: property owners who want an immediate installation may pay a $1,500 fee; the town would cover the remaining estimated $3,000 of the typical installation cost and would require homeowners to sign a maintenance agreement to keep the drain clear. The fee also is intended to ensure customer commitment because many historically installed chase drains later ran dry, staff said.

Why this matters: the change shifts some immediate cost to homeowners while preserving a customer‑service installation option. Council members pressed staff on winter performance limits and the town’s responsibility for post‑installation responses when ice forms. Council member Dietz and others emphasized that public works response to iced sidewalks and streets is reactive — staff chips ice after buildup — and said residents should be warned that chase drains are not a universal fix for north‑facing yards or winter freeze‑thaw problems.

Additional context and next steps: Marlow said the Castle Rock Water Commission reviewed the proposal and supported a $1,500 fee (and suggested it could be higher); staff plans to present an implementation process and materials so customers understand use cases and limitations. Council did not vote on the policy change at the meeting; staff sought council awareness and described the proposed fee and education measures only.

Ending: Staff said homeowners could still pay privately to install a chase drain immediately under a permit, and that the town would continue to install approved drains via public works on an annual schedule in late summer/early fall.