The Columbine Water & Sanitation District was formed in September of 1970 to provide water and sewer to property owners in Columbine Lake Subdivision. At first, water and sewer were provided by Grand Lake. In 1973, Columbine Lake Water and Sanitation District built water plant #1 and started providing their own water. Three Lakes Water and Sanitation was created in 1971 and began managing the sewer system in 1980. The word sanitation was later removed from the Columbine Lake Water and Sanitation District and became Columbine Lake Water District.
Each entity is controlled by its' own Board of Directors. The Columbine Lake Water District is managed through an intergovernmental agreement with Three Lakes Water & Sanitation to provide maintenance and office personnel for the Columbine Lake Water District.
The Columbine Lake Water Board meets on the third Monday of each month at 3:00 PM at the Three Lakes Water and Sanitation Office located at 1111 County Road 48. Regular office hours of operation are 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm, Monday - Fridays except for holidays.
Water Use Fees: One Family Residential Unit $200 per year base rate Each fixture unit $16.00 per year Water Service Line Break Pool Fees: $50.00 per year This program was implemented to pay for service line breaks, those water lines owned by property owners (See description of service line below) in which a water line break occurs in the public right of way. When a water line break surfaces in the public right-of-way, District personnel cannot always tell if it is a break in a water main or a service line. In this situation, the District will hire a Contractor, and if it is determined that the break is on a service line, the Contactor is paid via the Pool funds. The program continues to be active. ** Please remember that, as an owner you are responsible for the service line, which is that portion of water pipe from the connection at your home to the connection at the water main. Your responsibility does not end at your curb valve. The Columbine Water District is responsible for maintenance of the main water line. |
A little bit of history:
In February 1969, after a trip by Bill Isenhart and Carl Anderson to view the Columbine Lake property, which had been put up for sale by Howard Breckon, an investment group was formed called “Columbine Lake, a joint venture”, to purchase the property. On May 1 they closed on the property. The Plat for a recreational area was approved by the County shortly thereafter and a grand opening for Columbine Lake was held Memorial Day weekend, 1969. Lots began to sell, construction of the clubhouse and swimming pool began. There was even a guardhouse at the gate and prospective purchasers needed a gate pass to enter into the Subdivision.
Four homes were initially put in on Columbine Drive because there was a spring nearby and a temporary water line was installed to service the four homes and the clubhouse. Temporary septic tanks were also installed. In the fall of 1970 seven people voted to create Columbine Lake Water and Sanitation District, the water to be supplied by the Town of Grand Lake. Construction of water lines began in the fall of 1971 and homes were first supplied with water from the Town in October, 1972. In February 1973 the Town water storage tank wet dry. Since the developers had purchased the water rights with the land, an augmentation plan to convert those water rights to domestic use was approved and Water Plant #1 was built near the clubhouse. In the summer of 1973 the water and sewer lines were installed by Thompson & Sons of Granby. Rich McNeely, who lived on Golf Course Road, was the first water plant operator.
In 1980 Columbine Lake Water & Sanitation District sold their sewer lines to Three Lakes Water & Sanitation District, and became a provider of water only. The District name was formally changed to Columbine Lake Water District in December, 1997.
In 1984 a 200,000 gallon water storage tank was built and Water Plant #2 was rebuilt. In 2005 the renovation of Water Plant #1 was completed, which included adding equipment for the removal of manganese from the water.
The Columbine Lake Water District now services 460 residents. The operation and maintenance of the water system as well as administrative duties are contracted out to Three Lakes Water & Sanitation District.
