Boxelder Sanitation District

What Boxelder Sanitation District does

Boxelder Sanitation District is a Colorado special district (local unit of government) formed in 1965 by local landowners to provide wastewater collection and treatment services across approximately 78 square miles in Larimer and Weld counties, including portions of Fort Collins, Timnath, Severance, and Windsor. The district operates a state-of-the-art Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) facility using oxidation ditches, clarifiers, aerobic digesters, and UV disinfection to process roughly 2 million gallons of wastewater per day (over 700 million gallons annually) before discharging to Boxelder Creek and the Cache la Poudre River. The collection system comprises 104 miles of gravity-fed sewer lines, 2,294 manholes, five main interceptors, and six lift stations, serving approximately 8,000 residential accounts (representing ~18,000 people) and over 730 commercial and industrial customers spanning 30 industry types.

The district generates revenue entirely through user fees, with a 0-mill-levy structure and no tax revenue. Residential customers are billed via winter averaging (December through March water consumption average) at $3 per 1,000 gallons plus a monthly base rate, while commercial customers are billed on monthly usage. Additional revenue streams include plant investment fees from developers under a 'growth pays its way' philosophy, and low-interest loans from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPDA) State Revolving Fund Program, with two loans taken to date (2013 facility development and 2021 expansion). The district has held EPA-approved Industrial Pretreatment Program authority since 1994 and has received NACWA Gold Peak Performance Awards three times. Capital investment is governed by a 20-year Master Plan last updated in 2024, with active projects including the OCI/CSI sewer replacement, the Rest Area Lift Station force main relocation, and a 2026 digester thickening upgrade, all supported by a 15-person staff.

Name

Boxelder Sanitation District

Legal name

Boxelder Sanitation District

Website

https://boxeldersanitation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boxelder Sanitation District is a Colorado special district formed in 1965 that provides wastewater collection and treatment to roughly 8,000 residential and 730 commercial accounts across a 78-square-mile service area in Larimer and Weld counties, funded entirely by user fees with no tax revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (221), Septic Tank and Related Services (562991)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Advanced/Nutrient Removal (BNR/ENR: N, P) (EUANADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Septage Receiving, Treatment & Disposal (BPALAMAE), Sewer & Stormwater Line Cleaning (Jetting, Rooting) (BPALAMAG)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Sewer collection systems
• Industrial pretreatment programs
• Biological nutrient removal
• Municipal wastewater utility

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Collins

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Monthly Service Charges: Recurring monthly billing based on winter averaging for residential customers (using December-March water consumption average) and monthly usage for commercial customers. Rate of $3 per 1,000 gallons plus base rate.
2. Plant Investment Fees: Fees charged to developers for infrastructure expansion or equipment to accommodate increased demand from new developments. Funded by new development as part of 'growth pays its way' philosophy.
3. Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority Loans: Low-interest loans through CWRPDA State Revolving Fund Program administered by CDPHE and EPA for large-scale treatment plant projects. Two loans taken: one for 2013 facility development funded by monthly service charges and plant investment fees; second for expansion funded by new development fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Boxelder Sanitation District is a Colorado special district (local government entity) that provides wastewater collection and treatment services to residential and commercial customers across 78 square miles in portions of Larimer and Weld counties. It operates a state-of-the-art Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) treatment facility processing approximately 2 million gallons of wastewater daily, supported by 104 miles of gravity-fed sewer lines, 2,294 manholes, five main interceptors, and six lift stations. The District also administers an EPA-approved Industrial Pretreatment Program (since 1994) covering more than 700 commercial and industrial customers across 30 industry types, with the entire operation funded through user fees rather than tax revenue.

Product overview

Boxelder Sanitation District operates as a single-service utility providing wastewater collection and treatment services. The core product consists of a comprehensive collection system (104 miles of gravity-fed lines, 2,294 manholes, five interceptors, six lift stations) connected to a state-of-the-art Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) wastewater treatment facility processing approximately 2 million gallons daily. Supporting services include an EPA-approved Industrial Pretreatment Program for commercial and industrial customers, customer billing through Xpress Bill Pay, Winter Averaging for residential accounts, and an Irrigation Meter Program for commercial properties. The District's mission is to protect public health and the environment by safely collecting and treating wastewater before returning clean water to Boxelder Creek and the Cache la Poudre River.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment Services Core wastewater collection and treatment service that protects public health and the environment, serving portions of Larimer and Weld counties including Fort Collins, Timnath, Severance, Windsor, and surrounding areas. Processes approximately 2 million gallons of wastewater daily (over 700 million gallons per year) through a state-of-the-art Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) facility, returning clean water to Boxelder Creek and the Cache la Poudre River.
• Collection System Manages 104 miles of gravity-fed sewer lines, 2,294 manholes, five main interceptors, and six lift stations to collect and transport wastewater from residential and commercial customers to the treatment plant. Includes a real-time flow monitoring system with eight permanent flow meters and two portable meters for monitoring, flow graphing, and masterplan data collection.
• Industrial Pretreatment Program EPA-approved Industrial Pretreatment Program applicable to all non-domestic customers that applies provisions to reduce, eliminate, or alter pollutants prior to discharge to the treatment plant. Includes annual inspections, discharge permits, Fats Oils and Grease (FOG) program management, Industrial Waste Questionnaires, and serves over 730 commercial and industrial businesses across 30 different industry types.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Pretreatment ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994EPA-approved Industrial Pretreatment Program administered locally by Boxelder since 1994. Boxelder is the local pretreatment control authority for its service area, overseeing compliance for industrial users rather than relying on direct EPA oversight. Submits annual reports to EPA.
• North Front Range Water Quality Planning Association (NFRWQPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoxelder District Manager Brian Zick serves on the NFRWQPA Executive Committee. NFRWQPA studies and plans for water quality in Larimer and Weld counties, producing reports on nonpoint source pollution management. Boxelder hosted their presentation for regional policymakers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Metro Wastewater Reclamation District: Special district in the Denver metro area providing regional wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Highly comparable as a Colorado special-district wastewater utility serving residential and commercial customers with similar regulatory exposure and BNR treatment requirements.
• Loveland Water and Power Department: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Loveland in Larimer County, bordering Boxelder's service area. Comparable in scale, customer mix, and regulatory environment for a Northern Colorado special district.
• Greeley Water and Sewer Department: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Greeley in Weld County, directly adjacent to Boxelder's service territory. Comparable as a Northern Colorado utility offering wastewater collection/treatment to a mix of residential and industrial users.

Regional players

• Fort Collins Utilities (Water/Wastewater): Municipal utility for the City of Fort Collins that overlaps geographically with portions of Boxelder's service area. Comparable as a Colorado municipal wastewater provider with similar regulatory and operational scope, though larger and part of a broader city utility portfolio.
• Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority: Colorado special district focused on water quality and wastewater infrastructure in the Cherry Creek basin. Comparable as a Colorado special-purpose local government entity addressing wastewater/water quality obligations under state and EPA oversight.
• Windsor-Severance Wastewater Treatment Plant: Joint Town of Windsor/Severance facility providing wastewater treatment for communities partially within Boxelder's service area. Comparable as a small Northern Colorado wastewater operator with similar growth-driven capacity expansion needs.

Emerging players

• Clean Water Services (Washington County, Oregon): Water resources utility in Washington County, Oregon providing wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and water quality services. Comparable as a mid-sized special-district-style utility with strong regulatory reputation and growth-region dynamics similar to Northern Colorado.

Broad incumbents

• Severn Trent Services: International water and wastewater services company operating treatment facilities and providing operational services to municipal clients. Comparable as a large-scale operator/outsourced services provider in the wastewater utility space.
• American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility, operating regulated and military services across many states. Comparable as a regulated wastewater utility operator at vastly larger scale.
• Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions: Global environmental services and water technology provider with deep municipal and industrial wastewater treatment capabilities. Comparable as a vendor/operator of BNR and wastewater treatment technologies at scale, representing a potential technology/capital partner for small districts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boxelder-sanitation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Boxelder Sanitation District