The District uses a combination of rates and fees to balance the budget in order to provide water and sewer services to our customers. There is a minimum monthly charge that reflects the amount it costs the District to open its doors to serve you when you turn on the water tap or flush, any time of the day or night, 24/7/365. The base water rate includes 4,000 gallons of water per one SFE (single family equivalent). Wastewater is a flat rate.

Current Rates

User Fees:

User fees are billed on a monthly basis. Water consumption is metered and billed per 1,000 gallons of usage. Sewer service is a flat fee.

2024 Rates
Base Rate: Water $65.90 -  Sewer $58.83 =  Total base monthly bill $124.73
Water Metered Base Rate includes up to 4,000 gallons, plus

• For Tier 2 - $6.02/1000 4,001 to 11,000 gallons
• For Tier 3 - $7.51/1000 11,001 to 20,000 gallons
• For Tier 4 - $10.51/1000 20,001 to unlimited

Bulk Station Fill Rate is $17.96/1,000 gallons

Availability of Service Fees:

Availability of Service fees are charged where water and/or sewer main lines are within 100 feet of the property line of a vacant property, parcel, or lot. These services are charged on vacant land lots not currently tapped to the District system, if the main lines are within 100 feet of the property line. By charging for Availability of Service, payment for bond indebtedness incurred for capital expenses such as infrastructure is more equally distributed among all property owners. Availability fees are not used for operational costs, only capital infrastructure. This fee structure was established in 1978 and is provided for in Section 32-1-1006 (D) of the Colorado State Statutes. The Availability of Services fees are a means of making up the difference between developed versus undeveloped land. The alternative would be a high mill levy on property tax rates. It would also be extremely expensive and not feasible for individual property owners to run lines to their lots.  Availability fees are billed for each lot on a single family equivalent per quarterly basis. There are additional fees for Low Density and High Density Multi-Family property. 
Base Rate: Water $65.10 + Sewer $73.50 - Total base quarterly bill $138.60
 

Other District Fees:

Fee Schedule: 

Water Meter Prices: 

3/4 inch meter $  270.00

1 inch meter $  340.00

1-1/2 inch meter $  1,875.00

2 inch meter $  2,175.00

3 inch meter $  2,700.00  

MXU: (Meter Transceiver Unit) 

Transceiver Battery $  275.00

Meridian Lake Park Rates

In addition to the usage and availability fees above, Meridian Lake Park customers are charged a Capital Improvement Surcharge of $36.27 per lot per month.
 

Billing, Penalties and Interest

The District accepts payment in the form of cash, check, money order.  In addition to mail-in payments and paying at the office, there is a payment drop slot at the Main Office front door. Also available is an on-line bill pay system with Xpress Bill Pay, www.xpressbillpay.com. 
Water meters are read by radio read around the 25th of each month. Utility bills are then prepared and mailed at the end of each month for the previous months’ usage. Payment is due on the 20th of the month. We do not accept postmarks due to our remote location. Payment must be received at the office by the due date.
Quarterly bills for the Availability fees are mailed in advance of the quarter in March, June, September and December. Payment is due on the 20th of the next month.
If payment is not received by the 20th of the month for all billings, a penalty is charged at 1% of the balance due.
If your bill contains a penalty, this simply means the District did not receive payment for the previous bill when the calculations for the current bill were made. This does not necessarily mean your payment was not received before the bill was sent, but it was not available when the calculations were done.
 

Trash Service

The Mt Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District provides only water and sewer services to the properties within the District boundaries. Trash pick-up is coordinated by the Town of Mt Crested Butte. You may reach them by calling 970-349-6632.