Eagle River Water and Sanitation District

What Eagle River Water and Sanitation District does

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District (ERWSD) is a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado, created under the Colorado Special District Act and governed by a seven-member publicly elected Board of Directors. The district provides integrated water and wastewater services to customers across Eagle County, from East Vail through Avon, Edwards, and Wolcott, with separate wastewater service for the Town of Minturn. ERWSD also provides full contract operations and management services to the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority (UERWA), collectively making the two entities the second-largest municipal water supplier on Colorado's western slope at peak season (~55,000 customers), while the ERWSD-owned distribution system itself ranks as the sixth-largest in the state with approximately 10,000 customer accounts.

The district operates 240 miles of water pipeline and 210 miles of wastewater collection pipeline, two advanced drinking water treatment facilities (handling both groundwater and surface water with EPA-certified 24/7 staffing), three wastewater treatment facilities in Vail, Avon, and Edwards, a state-certified water testing laboratory, and an AMI radio-based automatic meter reading system that provides continuous per-customer usage telemetry. Technology surface is primarily customer-facing: the MyWater portal for account management and usage tracking, an ArcGIS-based public water outage map, an interactive bill forecaster tool, and an opt-in SMS alert program. A $145 million capital program, the Bolts Lake Project, will add a 1,200 acre-foot reservoir in Minturn to protect minimum stream flows during drought.

ERWSD generates revenue through monthly recurring water and wastewater service charges (base service charges plus tiered usage rates), one-time system impact and connection fees paid by developers and homeowners, water testing lab services, and short-term hydrant meter rentals. Service is delivered direct-to-consumer across the district's geographically defined service area, with no private-sector channel exposure. The district has no parent company, no venture ownership, and is funded through a combination of ratepayer revenue, impact fees, and municipal bond financing supplemented by grant pursuit.

Name

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District

Legal name

Eagle River Water & Sanitation District

Website

https://erwsd.org

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District is a Colorado quasi-municipal special district providing integrated drinking water and wastewater services across Eagle County, operating the state's sixth-largest water distribution system and serving approximately 10,000 accounts (55,000 at peak season via its UERWA contract).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Utilities

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH), Water Source Development & Intake Systems (Wells, Boreholes, Intakes) (AFAAACAI)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment
• Drinking water distribution
• Water conservation programs
• Special district government

Headquarters

HQ city

Coushatta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water and Wastewater Service Billing: The district provides monthly billing for water and wastewater services for customers from East Vail to Cordillera, and billing for wastewater services only for Minturn. Rates are adjusted annually to address regulatory requirements, maintain aging infrastructure, enhance system resiliency, and support funding for essential water and wastewater projects through new bonds. Billing consists of service rates, water use rates, wastewater use charges, and additional charges and taxes.
2. Impact and Connection Fees: One-time system impact fees for the right to connect to water or sewer systems. Fees vary by location, district, and facility type, based on number of fixture units and estimated maximum water demand. Additional fees may include plant investment fees, water storage fees, and inclusion fees. Transfer of service fee of $190 applies for all account transfers as of Jan. 1, 2026.
3. Water Testing Laboratory Services: State-certified testing laboratory provides water testing services for total coliform, E. coli, metals, and other parameters. Services available to external customers and the public. Lab participates in annual EPA DMR-QA study program.
4. Hydrant Meter Rentals: Temporary water service for construction sites or properties without service. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) require rental form; long-term rentals approved case-by-case. Requires deposit and installation fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Eagle River Water & Sanitation District is a local government utility that provides drinking water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment services to residential, commercial, and mixed-use customers from East Vail to Wolcott in Eagle County, Colorado, with separate wastewater service for the Town of Minturn. Its offering is delivered through approximately 450 miles of pipeline and three wastewater treatment facilities, augmented by customer-facing tools such as the MyWater portal, a bill forecaster, backflow prevention and FOG compliance programs, a state-certified water testing lab, and drought and conservation programs including the Live Like a Local campaign and Water Shortage Response Plan.

Product overview

Eagle River Water & Sanitation District is a local government utility providing water and wastewater services. The district operates a unified service platform centered on the MyWater Customer Portal for account management and billing, complemented by specialized conservation programs (Live Like a Local campaign, Water Shortage Response Plan) and infrastructure projects (Bolts Lake Project, Minturn Wastewater Improvements). Core services include drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment through three facilities, plus compliance programs for backflow prevention and FOG management. The district's technology offerings are primarily customer-facing web portals and mapping tools rather than a traditional SaaS product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Live Like a Local™: A valley-wide, collaborative water conservation campaign developed in partnership with local towns, water providers, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and regional entities throughout the Eagle River Valley.

Products and services

• Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Treatment of groundwater and surface water to deliver clean, safe drinking water to residential, commercial, and mixed-use customers from East Vail to Intermountain in Eagle County, Colorado.
• Wastewater Collection and Treatment Collection and treatment of wastewater through three ERWSD-operated facilities removing organic material, nutrients, and disease-causing organisms before releasing treated water; serves residential, commercial, and Minturn-specific customers.
• Contract Water Operations and Management Services for UERWA Full contract operations and management of water service delivered by ERWSD to Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority (UERWA), which supplies water to six member entities (Arrowhead, Avon, Beaver Creek, Berry Creek, EagleVail, Edwards Metropolitan Districts) and Bachelor Gulch and Cordillera Metropolitan Districts.
• Water Testing Laboratory Services State-certified laboratory performing water testing services for total coliform, E. coli, metals, and other parameters, available to external customers and the public, with EPA DMR-QA program participation.
• Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control Program Regulatory compliance program requiring customers to install backflow prevention assemblies, complete cross-connection surveys, and conduct annual testing through certified testers to protect the public water system.
• FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) Program Compliance program for Food Service Establishments providing site visits, education, inspections, grease trap maintenance requirements, and enforcement to keep FOG out of the wastewater collection system.
• Hydrant Meter Rentals Temporary water service for construction sites or properties without regular service, provided through short-term (under 30 days) and long-term hydrant meter rentals with deposit and installation fee.
• System Impact, Connection, and Inclusion Fees One-time system impact, plant investment, water storage, and inclusion fees paid by developers or homeowners for the right to connect to water or sewer systems.
• MyWater Customer Portal Online self-service portal for ERWSD customers to view billing information, track water usage, manage accounts, sign up for alerts, and pay bills.
• Bill Forecaster Tool Interactive online tool that estimates customer bills based on prior water use, current rates, and any water shortage fines for high use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 55,000 customers during peak seasons as second largest municipal water supplier on western slope
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eagle County Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Live Like a Local water conservation campaign, a valley-wide collaborative effort to inform and encourage responsible water use throughout the Eagle River Valley.
• Beyond LawncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign offering low-cost home water use evaluations and conservation reports to help homeowners identify leaks, inefficient irrigation, and simple upgrades for water savings.
• Walking MountainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign and Climate Action Collaborative, supporting environmental education and conservation initiatives in the Eagle River Valley.
• Climate Action CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership focused on climate action initiatives including water conservation and sustainability efforts throughout Eagle County.
• Eagle River CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization dedicated to protecting the Eagle River and its tributaries through monitoring, education, and advocacy. Supports watershed health initiatives.
• Town of VailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign and watershed protection. Town collaborates on water conservation measures, Fire Free Five landscaping program, and water-wise community standards.
• Town of AvoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember entity of UERWA and partner in Live Like a Local campaign. Collaborates on regional water conservation and supply resilience initiatives.
• Betty Ford Alpine GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign providing sustainable landscaping resources and plant selection guidance for water-wise gardens at high elevation.
• Eagle County Wildfire CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting wildfire resilience through water-wise landscaping initiatives that reduce excess vegetation and fire fuel while promoting conservation.
• Eagle Valley Land TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign focused on land conservation and protecting natural resources in the Eagle River Valley.
• Vail Valley FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Live Like a Local campaign supporting community programs and initiatives in the Vail Valley.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver three decades of partnership for watershed monitoring and water quality improvement projects. Collaborates on protecting the Gore Creek and Eagle River watersheds spanning over 1,000 square miles.
• U.S. Geological SurveycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for water quality monitoring and improvement projects. Provides scientific expertise for watershed protection across the Eagle River Valley.
• Colorado State University ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing plant selection guides, irrigation resources, and gardening resources tailored to Colorado's high-elevation mountain communities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority: Regional water authority in Eagle County, Colorado that ERWSD operates under contract. Provides wholesale water to six member entities plus Bachelor Gulch and Cordillera Metropolitan Districts, with overlapping service geography and customer base.
• Donala Water and Sanitation District: Colorado special district providing water and wastewater service to the Tri-Lakes area near Colorado Springs. Closely comparable as a small-to-mid-size Colorado special district operating water and wastewater utilities under similar state oversight.
• Mt. Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District: Mountain resort special district in Crested Butte, Colorado providing water and wastewater service. Comparable as a high-altitude, resort-area special district facing similar climate, snowpack, and tourism-driven demand dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Water: Largest water utility in Colorado, serving the Denver metro area with drinking water treatment, distribution, and source water protection. Comparable in core water utility operations but at significantly greater scale and across a different geography than ERWSD.
• Aurora Water: Municipal water utility serving the City of Aurora, Colorado with potable water treatment, distribution, and wastewater coordination. Comparable in regulated municipal water delivery but operates at a much larger scale in a more urban setting.
• Colorado Springs Utilities: Multi-utility providing electric, natural gas, water, and wastewater services to Colorado Springs. Comparable in integrated water/wastewater utility operations but serves a much larger and more urban customer base.

Regional players

• Eagle County Government: County government covering the same geography ERWSD serves, with overlapping responsibilities in land use, building, and environmental programs. Comparable as a regional public-sector entity operating within ERWSD's service area rather than as a direct utility competitor.
• Town of Vail: Municipal government that is both a member entity of UERWA and a partner in the Live Like a Local conservation campaign. Comparable as a local public-sector partner that co-shapes water policy, conservation regulations, and capital planning in ERWSD's footprint.

Others

• Eagle River Coalition: Watershed protection nonprofit focused on the Eagle River and its tributaries. Comparable as a partner organization in ERWSD's watershed monitoring and Live Like a Local campaign, but does not deliver utility services.
• Vail Resorts: Largest ski resort operator in the Vail Valley and a major water consumer within ERWSD's service area. Comparable as a key stakeholder and large commercial customer driving both peak-season demand and economic exposure in the district's geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VailCOwater

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eagle River Water and Sanitation District