It will cost more to flush the toilet, run your dishwasher, or take a shower next year if you live in the town of Estes Park. Customers of Estes Park Sanitation will see a 3% bump in their wastewater treatment rates beginning in January. The rates were approved by the utility’s board of directors on Dec. 10.

For a single-family and large, multi-family dwelling, the rate will increase from $579 to $596. The fees are billed quarterly. An accessory dwelling, or small family dwelling will increase from $390 annually to $402 annually.

According to Tony Drees, district manager for EP San, the size of a dwelling is based on how many fixtures—sinks, toilets, and appliances such as washing machines—it contains. The number of fixture value units determines how a dwelling or a commercial property is rated.

“Commercial rates are based on a dollar amount per 1,000 gallons,” said Drees. This year a commercial user’s rate has been $10.947 per 1,000 gallons. The rate will increase to $11.275 per 1,000 gallons in 2025. For minimum users, such as a small retail shop, the annual cost will increase from $408 annually to $420 annually.

The minimum tap fee for new construction has been $4,455. That fee will increase to $4,650.

Projected expenses for 2025 are $1,942,016 and projected revenues are $ 2,625,600.

One expense factored into the 2025 budget is $33,000 for a computerized model of the wastewater treatment plant which will allow the staff to make necessary updates in equipment or water lines to meet regulatory requirements before treated water is released into the Big Thompson.

The budget also includes a 5% raise for the staff. The directors decided to not increase the $85 per meeting directors are paid for 2025.

Incorporated in March 1940, EP San, is the oldest special district in the state. Special districts are local government bodies that provide a service to a specific geographic area. The organization has five directors, Todd M. Plummer, board chair; Anthony Ricciardi, vice chair: F.R. Houser, treasurer; Ryan Leahy, and Jennifer Waters. This coming May, during special district elections, the seats Houser, Plummer, and Waters hold will be up for election.

EP San has eight employees, including two people in administration, three people who work in the wastewater plant and three who work on the line. The budget for 2025 includes money to hire an additional administrative person.

The current wastewater treatment plant, located east of the Estes Park Visitor’s Center, was built in 1964. The facility has a permitted capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day with the plant operating at approximately 50 to 55% capacity during peak summer season. 

There are two wastewater treatment plants in the area. Estes Park Sanitation District serves residents and businesses inside the town of Estes Park. Upper Thompson Sanitation District, founded in 1971, serves residents and businesses that are outside the town’s boundaries. The UTSD plant was constructed and brought on line in 1976 at a cost of $5.5 million.

The UTSD board voted to increase service rates for residential customers 10.5%. This will raise the annual base rate for one Single Family Equivalent from $865 in 2024 to $956 in 2025, or by $7.58 per month. In addition, metered customers will incur a metered charge of $16.96 per 1,000 gallons of water used beyond 14,052 gallons per quarter. 

UTSD is preparing to build a new $80 million plant. The utility hopes to break ground in the spring. The new state-of-the-art-plant will not expand the 1.5 million gallons of wastewater that the utility can process per day, but it will better meet higher water quality standards that will be mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. According to UTSD, its existing facilities do not meet current building code and safety requirements.

EP San does not have plans to build a new facility at this time even though its plant is older than the UPSD facility.