Why is Windsor Raising the Water Rates by 26% in 2026?

Being that Colorado is a land-locked state, it's no surprise that water is vital for every community. When communities grow and/or age, supply has a hard time meeting demand. Windsor's demand does continue to grow, while infrastructure continues to age; hence, here comes another rate increase for the town.

All across Colorado and America, monthly bills can take a hit throughout the year: running the AC raise the bill, heating your home to a decent temperature raises the bill. All in all, thing generally even out, year-to-year. That is, until the city or town, needs work done to the infrastructure and needs to money to get it done; that's when they make the hard decision to charge customers more for services, such as water.

Water Treatment is One Reason Windsor Needs to Raise Water Rates

Come the beginning of March of 2026, Windsor residents and businesses who pay Water, Sewer and Stormwater fees will see those raise by nearly $30/month with a 26% increase. The town needs to implement this increase to feed the Enterprise Fund which pays for running, maintaining and improve the town's utility system.

READ MORE: Greeley's G.O.A.T. Sports Bar Coming to Windsor

The town's wastewater treatment facility has reached the end of its 30-year of expected service life. They've tried to keep their (what's noted as) 2.8 million-gallon-per-day (MGD) facility going, but it's time to move up to a bigger 6.3 MGD, which the town notes as costing around $150 million. The way the town states it, it seems best to bite the bullet now as the costs of a new facility, gets higher and higher.

Aging Infrastructure is Another Reason for Water Rates to Rise in Windsor

Add into needing a new wastewater treatment facility, Windsor also needs to replace at 24-inch-wide water line that runs underneath 15th Street on the west side of town, south of Main Street. This particular water line is crucial enough to residents and businesses in the area to warrant the expenditure.

Does the Water Rates Increase Have Anything to do with the Data Center Coming?

With the rate increase announcement, the Town of Windsor did not bring up what effect the GlobalAI Data Center, coming in 2026, might have on the Town's water supply and costs.