United Water and Sanitation District

What United Water and Sanitation District does

United Water and Sanitation District is a governmental special district organized under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, with a statewide service area that distinguishes it from typical local special districts. Founded by Bob Lembke in 2003 (one source notes 1993), the entity is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and does not levy taxes; infrastructure is financed through private capital and fees levied on properties served by its projects. The district finances, constructs, and operates water delivery and sanitation systems serving agricultural, residential, and municipal clients along Colorado's Front Range.

The core product is the Integrated Water System, a unified infrastructure platform spanning more than 400 miles that combines natural geologic features with pipelines, pumps, reservoirs, recharge ponds, and well fields. The system is organized into a Northern Tier (including 70 Ranch Reservoir at 5,500 acre-feet, Milliken Reservoir expandable to 10,000 AF, Serfer Reservoir at 280 AF, Haren Recharge Pond at 80 CFS, and Strohauer Recharge Pond) and a Middle Tier (United #3 Diversion at 750 CFS, United #3 Reservoir at 3,400 AF, Beebe Draw Well Field with 17 shallow alluvial wells at 14,000 GPM / 20 MGD, Highlands Reservoir at 4,200 AF, Tu and DeSanti Recharge Ponds). The district also sponsors the Subsurface Irrigation Efficiency Project (SIEP), a permanent research facility operated with Colorado State University focused on subsurface drip irrigation. Awards include the 2020 H2O Award (Colorado Contractors Association) and the 2020 NUCA Water Category award for the 70 Ranch Reservoir buildout.

The business model rests on direct infrastructure partnerships with municipal water districts (Denver Board of Water Commissioners, Town of Lochbuie, South Adams W&S District, East Cherry Creek Valley, Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority), irrigation companies (Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company), and co-owned facilities with partner authorities WAWDA, CCWCD, PRWDA, and Ducks Unlimited. Revenue is generated through fees on properties served and transaction-based water rights acquisitions, supplemented by privately financed infrastructure development. The district explicitly avoids Western Slope diversions and interstate pipelines, instead providing Front Range communities access to renewable Platte River water sources.

Name

United Water and Sanitation District

Legal name

United Water and Sanitation District

Website

https://unitedwaterdistrict.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Water and Sanitation District is a Colorado special district that builds and operates 400+ miles of water infrastructure—including reservoirs, recharge ponds, and well fields—serving agricultural, residential, and municipal clients along the Front Range.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Utilities (22), Utilities (221)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Detention, Retention & Storage Systems (Ponds, Tanks, Vaults) (EUANAEAD), Onsite/Decentralized Reuse Utilities (District/Building‑Scale Reuse as a Service) (EUANAGAH), Storage & Conveyance Structures (Reservoirs, Tanks, Culverts, Tunnels) (IMAFAGAE), Pump & Well Services for Irrigation (Well Testing, Pump Sizing, Rehab) (AFACAFAG)

Keywords

• Water infrastructure services
• Water delivery systems
• Water rights acquisition
• Municipal water services
• Agricultural irrigation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Water Infrastructure Services: United Water and Sanitation District operates as a special district that does not levy taxes. Infrastructure projects are paid through a combination of private financing and fees levied on properties where projects are built. The district serves municipalities, agricultural operations, and special districts with water delivery systems.
2. Water Rights Acquisition: The district has expertise in acquiring water rights and building efficient water delivery systems. They complete transactions with municipalities and water districts to help entities gain access to renewable water sources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

United Water and Sanitation District is a governmental special district under Colorado Revised Statutes Title 32 that finances, constructs, and operates integrated water delivery and sanitation systems. The district builds and maintains modern water infrastructure spanning more than 400 miles across Colorado's Front Range, serving agricultural, residential, and municipal clients. It acquires water rights and develops customized water solutions using reservoirs, recharge ponds, well fields, pipelines, and pumping facilities, financed through private capital and fees on properties served rather than tax levies.

Product overview

United Water and Sanitation District is a governmental special district that provides water and sanitation infrastructure services across Colorado's Front Range. The company operates the Integrated Water System—a unified platform combining water delivery and sanitation systems that span more than 400 miles. The system comprises two main tiers (Middle Tier and Northern Tier) that incorporate reservoirs (70 Ranch Reservoir, Highlands Reservoir, Milliken Reservoir, Serfer Reservoir), recharge ponds, well fields, diversion structures, pipelines, and pumping facilities. Services include financing, construction, and operation of water delivery systems serving agricultural, residential, and municipal clients. The company also sponsors the Subsurface Irrigation Efficiency Project (SIEP), a research initiative focused on subsurface drip irrigation technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Delivery Systems

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 Ranch Reservoir filled to 5,500 acre-feet capacity in less than one year after grand opening in May 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Colorado State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado State University partners with United Water through the Subsurface Irrigation Efficiency Project (SIEP), a permanent research facility on 165 acres of land donated by 70 Ranch in Weld County. CSU students assist with subsurface irrigation experiments and water education tours. United helps fund weather stations that enhance CSU's weather-monitoring system.
• Platte River Water Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Platte River Water Development Authority (PRWDA) works with United Water on water infrastructure projects. PRWDA built the 70 Ranch Reservoir (owned) which United Water operates. Both are main sponsors of SIEP. Bob Lembke serves as president of WAWDA (Weld Adams Water Development Authority), a related entity.
• Weld Adams Water Development Authority (WAWDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAWDA and United Water co-own and operate key infrastructure including Milliken Reservoir and various recharge facilities. WAWDA owns the 70 Ranch Reservoir while United operates it. Drew Damiano serves as project manager for both entities.
• Ducks UnlimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDucks Unlimited collaborated with United Water on the design of the Haren Recharge Pond, a recharge facility in Platteville, CO with 80 CFS capacity, completed in May 2012.
• East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District (ECCV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECCV encompasses 8,772 acres in unincorporated Arapahoe County and the City of Centennial. Partner with United Water on shared infrastructure including the Beebe Draw Well Field (17 wells, 20 MGD) and Tu Recharge Pond.
• Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority (ACWWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACWWA covers roughly 5,000 acres in southern Arapahoe County serving approximately 3,000 residential and commercial accounts. Partners with United Water on shared infrastructure including the Beebe Draw Well Field and Tu Recharge Pond.
• 70 RanchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner70 Ranch is a 14,000+ acre historic ranch in Weld County owned by Bob Lembke. The ranch partners with United Water and SIEP for subsurface irrigation research. A 165-acre parcel was donated for SIEP research facility. The ranch also supports community programs including donating $5,000 to Kersey seniors meal program.
• Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCWCD co-owns and operates the Haren Recharge Pond with United Water, located at County Road 44, Platteville, CO with 80 CFS recharge capacity.
• Colorado State Land Board of CommissionersminorOthersColorado State Land Board leased the 70 Ranch Riverside Recharge Pond & Illinois Ditch site to United Water, with the agreement completed in December 2014.
• Denver Board of Water CommissionerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Water has completed transactions with Denver Board of Water Commissioners to help Denver gain access to renewable water sources as part of the broader water infrastructure network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northern Water (Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District): Colorado special district operating the Colorado-Big Thompson Project and delivering water across the northern Front Range. Closest structural analog to United Water as a multi-county Colorado water conservancy district with similar financing and water-rights playbook.
• South Adams Water & Sanitation District: Adams County special district providing water and wastewater services to Commerce City. Directly comparable operating model (Colorado special district, residential/commercial/industrial customers) and an existing United Water partner and customer.
• Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company: Historic agricultural irrigation company serving farmers along the Front Range. Existing United Water partner in water-rights transactions; closest peer on the agricultural-customer side of United's customer base.
• East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District (ECCV): Arapahoe County special district serving 8,772 acres and the City of Centennial. Co-develops Beebe Draw Well Field and Tu Recharge Pond with United, making it a near-clone peer in size, customer base, and infrastructure approach.
• Central Colorado Water Conservancy District (CCWCD): Colorado special district that co-owns and operates infrastructure with United (e.g., Haren Recharge Pond) and serves similar municipal and agricultural customers along the Front Range with recharge and storage assets.
• Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority (ACWWA): Southern Arapahoe County water/wastewater authority serving ~3,000 accounts. Co-develops Beebe Draw and Tu Recharge Pond with United; a near-identical special district peer in geography, customer type, and infrastructure model.

Regional players

• Colorado River Water Conservation District: Special district on the Western Slope managing river and reservoir operations. Comparable Title 32 special district structure but focused on a different basin; useful analog for special-district governance and water-rights management outside the Front Range.
• Southwestern Water Conservation District: Colorado special district providing water information, planning, and project support across the San Juan/Dolores basin. Comparable Title 32 governance and district service model, though operating in a different geographic region.

Broad incumbents

• Denver Water: The largest municipal water utility in Colorado and a named transaction counterparty of United Water. Operates a much larger treatment/distribution system serving metro Denver but overlaps in geography, customers, and renewable-Platte sourcing strategy.
• Aurora Water: Municipal water utility serving the City of Aurora with Prairie Waters and other reuse-focused infrastructure. Comparable in renewable sourcing and treatment focus, but operates as an integrated city utility rather than a multi-county special district.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedWaterCO
• Facebookfacebook.com/100064493387827
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-water-and-sanitation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 United Water and Sanitation District