By an 8-0 vote, Brighton City Council voted Tuesday to adopt new utility rates for water and wastewater services, a new water impact fee schedule, and a new residential water use tier structure. The rate changes take effect for bills dated April 1. Impact fee changes also take effect April 1. 

The adjusted water rates result in a 7 percent increase to the flat water service charge and usage fee. The contract water fee and water treatment plant fee will not be changing. The new usage tier structure provides users in the lowest-usage tier (Tier 1) with an additional 1,000 gallons of water at a lower rate than the current structure. A tier structure determines how much a user pays per 1,000 gallons.  

All wastewater for City of Brighton utility customers is processed by either Metro Water Recovery or the Town of Lochbuie. To keep rates in line with these processors, the City of Brighton has approved a 10.5 percent increase to the flat charge and usage fee for Metro customers, and a 3 percent increase to the flat charge and usage fee for Lochbuie customers.   

The new rates, water impact fees, and tier structures are being set to ensure the City's Utilities Department can continue to provide quality water and wastewater services. Rates and fees are determined by analyzing current and future operational costs and capital improvement needs.    

The City continues to offer the Brighton Water Assistance Program to utility customers that qualify. Qualified customers may receive up to $500 annually in utility bill credit. The Brighton Water Assistance Program is subject to available funding. To learn more about this program, or the rate changes that take effect April 1, visit www.brightonco.gov/waterbill.