Utilities

2025 Budget

2025 Budget:

$134,456,040

181.10 FTE

Department Overview:

The Utilities Department provides water, wastewater, and stormwater and flood management services to protect human and environmental health through efficient management of fiscal and natural resources.

The Utilities 2025 budget request includes a significant realignment to support the Greenways Maintenance Program, as well as inflationary adjustments for operations and maintenance expenses, including equipment, maintenance, chemicals, and energy. Key enhancements in the budget include:

Addition of a two-year Systems Administrator to enhance customer service and maintain consistent service delivery ($112,000).
Transition of the Greenways Program Manager from a two-year fixed-term role to a permanent position ($121,000). This transition reflects the role's success in meeting its objectives, leading the department to establish it as a permanent Greenways Program Manager position.
Increase of a Lab Technician FTE from 0.75 to 1.0 ($23,000). This adjustment is necessary due to process upgrades at the Water Resource Recovery Facility aimed at reducing phosphorus in wastewater effluent, which will require additional analyses to support operations and prepare for a new Colorado Discharge Permit anticipated within the next three to five years.
Addition of an Industrial Mechanic at the Boulder Water Resource Recovery Facility ($102,000). This position will help achieve full compliance with all permits, regulations, and reporting requirements by maintaining the infrastructure essential for optimal treatment process performance.

Department Programs:

Operating Budget (FY2023-2025)

Expenditure by Program

Program Overview

Administration

The Administrative team is responsible for planning and executing a comprehensive range of administrative services which support operations. These services encompass the areas of human resource management, financial management, systems and information management, project management and support services.

Utilities Engineering

Utilities Engineering protects public health and the economic vitality of our city through quality utility system management. This team provides planning, public engagement, project management, engineering, construction, and asset management for water, wastewater, and stormwater/flood management infrastructure.

Utilities Maintenance

Utilities Maintenance operates, maintains, and provides emergency response for the water distribution, wastewater collection, flood control facilities and stormwater conveyance systems of the city. This workgroup also performs all water meter reading, maintenance, and repair along with all underground utility locates. There is also a team that handles the Public Space Management and associated encampment cleanup for all Utility corridors including Boulder Creek and adjacent properties, as part of the inter-departmental Safe and Managed Public Spaces team.

Water Quality

Water Quality serves as a technical resource and provides regulatory support for Utilities and other city departments. Services include implementation of and support for regulatory permits, monitoring to meet regulations, evaluating performance of wastewater and drinking water treatment processes, and implementation of programs to protect public and environmental health, including the city’s source water and stormwater systems.

Water Treatment

Water Treatment operates and maintains the two water treatment plants responsible for providing the Boulder community with potable water for public health and fire response. This team is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations including the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Water Resources

Water Resources manages the city’s municipal raw water supplies and hydroelectric facilities. This group manages the diversion, storage, and delivery of raw water and completes water rights accounting. This workgroup also manages the water conservation program, leasing of raw water supplies to agricultural users, protects the city’s water rights in water court proceedings, acts as a liaison with ditch companies, and manages the instream flow program for Boulder Creek.

Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater Treatment operates and maintains the Boulder Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) and the Boulder Lift Station. At the WRRF, raw wastewater from city residents and businesses is processed into treated water effluent that is discharged into Boulder Creek according to the city's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. In addition to returning water to the creek, biosolids fertilizer and renewable natural gas are recovered at the WRRF.