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Broomfield staff say water bills remain affordable under EPA metrics despite rising costs
Summary
Staff presented 2025 cost breakouts for drinking water, wastewater and reuse and reported Broomfield's 2025 and 2026 rates fall well below EPA-recommended affordability thresholds for median and lower-income households.
Director of Water Utilities Ken Rutt presented a detailed breakdown of the 2025 cost of providing drinking water, wastewater and reuse irrigation water and framed affordability using two EPA-recommended metrics.
Staff reported component cost shares: for drinking water (treatment 49.45%, distribution 20.67%, resources 19.27%, testing/monitoring 5.73%, instrumentation & controls 3.68%, utility billing 0.66% and management 0.54%); for wastewater (treatment 53.91%, instrumentation & controls 19.69%, sewer collection 18.43%, testing/monitoring 6.2%, utility billing 0.97% and management 0.80%); and for reuse (water recovery treatment 47.21%, resources 35.29%, reuse treatment 11.22%, testing/monitoring 3.18%, distribution 2.51%, management 0.39% and utility billing 0.20%).
Using median household income ($125,055) and the EPA's 4.5% target, staff reported Broomfield's combined water, sewer and stormwater costs were 1.15% in 2025 and 1.32% in 2026. For the 20th percentile household income ($40,000) and a 10% target, staff reported rates of 3.6% (2025) and 4.1% (2026). Staff concluded the city’s rates are below both affordability thresholds.
The presentation noted that the CIP and revenue volatility from developer-driven license/tap fees and usage fees remain key financial risks to future affordability. The committee did not take formal action; staff will continue to incorporate cost and CIP updates into rate modeling.
