Wellington adopts updated water and wastewater impact fees, adds non-potable category

Wellington — The Board of Trustees adopted Ordinance No. 02-2026 on Feb. 24 to update capital-investment (impact) fees for water and wastewater connections and to add a new non-potable system category.

Megan Smith, deputy director of public works, said Colorado law requires that impact fees reflect the quantifiable impact of new development on utility capital facilities. Staff replicated the 2022 hybrid capacity-based methodology and updated system valuations, peak-demand factors and growth-related capital costs.

Under the proposed schedule, the potable-system water impact fee for a single-family tap would increase from $11,507 to $16,312. The new non-potable (non-pot) category — intended for developments using wells or ditch supplies for irrigation — would carry a lower fee (example single-family tap: $7,340) because non-potable peak demand is, by the study—stimate, about 45% of potable peak demand.

Smith said the wastewater impact fee for a single-family equivalent would rise from $10,740 to $13,362 under the updated valuations. Staff told the trustees the modeling included conservative assumptions about the mix of potable vs. non-potable development and that they tested scenarios (50%–80% non-potable in various years) to avoid a revenue shortfall.

Commenters asked whether the assumed share of future development using non-potable systems matched current building plans and whether a higher-than-expected share of non-potable development could reduce revenue available for loans and capital. Smith said modeling was conservative and that staff assumed an ultimate higher share of non-potable connections in later years but could not provide a definitive pipeline split in the moment.

The board voted to adopt the updated impact fees by roll call. Staff will publish the new fee schedule and continue periodic review as development patterns change.