GMWSD

Water district in Lakewood says pipes cannot handle more demand laid out in potential zoning changes By Maggie Bryan, denver7.com LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District (GMWSD), which provides water and sewer service to around 48,000 people in Lakewood, said density changes laid out in the City of Lakewood’s new comprehensive plan would put a strain on the district’s pipes. GMWSD sent a letter to the City of Lakewood on August 22 objecting to the city’s plan and requesting mediation to resolve a range of issues the water district said could lead to unexpected fees for residents. The letter requests the city stop proposed zoning changes that could increase density in certain areas until there is a plan for funding and construction to increase water infrastructure. “With the density changes, we don’t know if we’re able to accept a higher demand of water flow, mainly into our sewer system. The pipes are a certain size. You have to plan for storm events and things like that. So you have to have capacity available in the system to accommodate that,” GMWSD Manager Josh Stanley said. “If you exceed that, then you’re backing up into people’s homes, and nobody likes that.” The water district said it objects to certain goals laid out in the comprehensive plan, which was approved unanimously by the Lakewood City Council on July 28. In the letter, the GMWSD said it has concerns about the plan to eliminate some single-family zoning and mix commercial and residential infrastructure. The letter also said the need for new water and sewer lines to support higher density could lead to higher costs for residents. Read the full story here… Disclosure: Karen Morgan, manager of Lakewood Informer, is also the President of the Green Mountain W&S District Board and author of the letter covered in the story above.