City of Evans

City of Evans Municipal Water Report Information

The City of Evans has compiled six water-focused articles addressing crucial topics affecting Evans' future water management. This article covers Evans' water history, including past development, milestones, and current planning initiatives. Water rights, operational systems, and rate structures are complex issues requiring significant time to understand fully. The City Council is committed to discussing these matters openly with residents.

One goal of this series is to share information about water regulations and technical infrastructure that impact the City's daily water delivery capabilities. The City of Evans has completed several professional and technical studies for Water Fund management, recognizing that this information is vital to residents, and is preparing a "Citizen's View" overview of water issues.

Established in 1869, Evans began as a genuine Wild West cowboy town. Evans and Greeley competed to become the county government center, with Evans twice considered for county seat before Greeley secured the honor in 1877. The City of Evans began constructing its water distribution system in 1904. By the 1930s, legislation allowed for additional water projects including the Colorado-Big Thompson project, constructed between 1938 and 1957, which now provides water to 30 communities and approximately 693,000 acres of farmland.

The abundance of fertile farmland and water resources has supported Northern Colorado's growth. In recent decades, Evans' population increased from 5,876 in 1990 to 18,000 in 2008. This population growth supports businesses that provide employment opportunities and increased sales tax revenue for community services. The new Sam's Club in Evans exemplifies this economic development.

The City currently provides water to its 18,000 residents and nearly 2,400 customers outside city limits. Evans requires property owners to provide water rights when annexing or developing within the City. Developers must pay fees to connect to the existing distribution system, ensuring growth pays its own way.

A key challenge for Evans is maintaining a reliable water supply for customers. The City has a 25-year agreement with Greeley for water treatment, which defines treatment costs. If Evans residents use excessive water, additional fees must be paid to Greeley. Available water depends on the City's water rights, which will be discussed in a future article.

Water rates are determined by total system operation costs, including delivery expenses. The 2006 Citizen Water Audit Committee supported setting rates to cover current and future costs; by 2008, the most significant issues identified in that survey had been addressed.

This water history overview is the first topic in a series of public information papers aimed at increasing community knowledge about Evans' water issues. The ultimate goal is clear and consistent communication of Evans' Water Philosophy and its impact on day-to-day operations. Articles in this series are available at www.cityofevans.org under "The Citizens View." Comments may be directed to water@ci.evans.co.us.