Denver Water fulfills tasks to save the city money on water, auditors say

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Noah Festenstein noah.festenstein@denvergazette.com Apr 8, 2024 Updated 7 hrs ago 

Denver Water lead line replacement (copy) (copy)

FILE PHOTO: The Lead Reduction Program was approved in December 2019 by the Environmental Protection Agency and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The program, run by Denver Water, involves replacing all lead service lines with copper lines at no additional cost to Denver residents. Denver auditors recently revealed Denver Water fulfilled all requirements to help save the city more money on water expenditures.

The H20 is flowing as it should at Denver Water, and so are its successful methods of reducing the city’s chances of overpaying for city water and sewer services, according to a recent auditor's report.

Denver Water is an outside agency overseeing water services for residents, businesses, contractors and city buildings. It is not affiliated with the city of Denver, but the city charter allows auditors to audit the outside agency.

Denver auditors conducted its original Denver Water audit in 2022.

That audit revealed the city of Denver wasn’t checking whether it could receive government discounts on water services.

City charter requires that Denver Water can’t bill more than it costs to provide water to the city.

Also, the 2022 audit reported the Department of General Services didn’t properly review the city’s water bills, and that the Wastewater Management Division didn’t promptly check the accuracy of Denver Water sewer billing service fees.

“When we completed the audit there was still time to course correct,” Auditor Timothy O’Brien said in a statement. “I’m pleased to see the city took the opportunity to tighten up its financial accountability and ensure residents aren’t confused about their utilities.”

Auditors gave city departments five recommendations to follow up on. Within the past two years, Denver Water and its partners fulfilled all of its requirements to keep better track of how Denver can better spend on its water.

Auditor recommendations included reviewing the annual discounted governmental water rate, review water rates charged on monthly city water bills and for city officials to review Denver Water’s annual fees.

City departments, and Denver Water, fully implemented and reviewed auditor recommendations.

“This is the result we hope to see with every audit,” added O’Brien. “Denver is better off because the city agencies involved took our recommendations seriously and took action right away.”

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