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See the watering restrictions and mandatory watering schedule for your address

Denver Board of Water Commissioners declares Stage 1 drought, implements mandatory watering restrictions

Sewer backups are unfortunate events that may occur at some point in time for homeowners, renters and businesses.  This information provided by the Colorado Special Districts Property and Liability Pool may be helpful if that time ever happens.  Please follow the link below for important information on all things related to sewer backups.

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Often times, property owners are unaware that they own the buried pipes, called private service lines or laterals, that bring water into their home and/or business as well as the pipes that convey wastewater away from their homes.  Service lines are typically "out of sight" and "out of mind" until a failure occurs leaving you (the customer) with the hassle of costly repairs.

Most service line repairs can average between $3,000 to $5,000 and more depending on where the damage occurs.  When a break occurs, Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts (Southgate) recommend contacting at least three licensed and bonded plumbing contractors to obtain a quote for repairs needed.  Southgate also recommends contacting your Home Owners Insurance Agency to learn about additional coverage that could assist in mitigating these high costs in the event of an unfortunate occurrence. Coverage may vary from policy to policy so make sure to learn about the differences of what is covered and what is not. 

In the event that it is determined damage has been cause by Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts' facilities, Southgate Water & Sanitation may compensate up to but not exceeding $10,000 for clean-up of residential properties only.  Please call us if you have further questions about Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts' No-fault policy concerning clean-up of residential water and sewer back-ups.  

Have questions regarding service lines?  Feel free to call us @ 303-779-0261 and we'll be happy to assist!  

Join South Platte Renew for the 9th annual River Clean-Up for Earth Day on April 25, 2026. Help us keep waterways...

As part of Southgate's routine maintenance program of the sewer system, Southgate Operators and designated contractors will be performing jetting operations throughout the Districts.  Customers may notice the Southgate Jet Truck and designated contractors Jet Trucks performing cleaning operations in the neighborhood or on your street.  During this cleaning process, sediment, debris and roots are removed from the sewer main.  Cleaning equipment and operations have the ability to clean the Districts sewer mains but not customers sewer service lines.  Homeowners are responsible for maintaining and repairing sewer service lines up to and including the tap.              

Often times, the connection point (tap) of the customers sewer service to Districts sewer main may be a point of root intrusion.  Southgate strongly recommends performing regular maintenance of your sewer service line including a scope and jetting.  If you have any further questions regarding the jetting process or if you have experienced any issues related to jetting operations in the past, please contact Southgate's main office at 303-779-0261.  

**Please see utility maps below for current jetting area**

Southgate Water and Sanitation Districts encourages you to subscribe to this resource from Denver Water or check back here for the latest news you can use!

Temperature fluctuations are very common during Colorado winters and can be the cause of increased water main breaks across the District. Check out this article from Denver Water for more information.

Our dry climate means being smart about water use in our homes. These tips can help. Read how to get your house "in shape" from Denver Water.

Upgrade old fixtures with these rebates and bring us all one step closer to securing our water future well into the future.

Small faucet devices — if cleaned regularly — help save water, improve water service and reduce the risk of lead exposure.

Scammers target Denver Water customers by posing as utility workers; follow these tips to make sure you don't get ripped off.

See what’s done underground, out of sight — and is a crucial part of DW’s mission. How do water treatment plants work?

Have you recently purchased or installed a new sump pump?  Or are you considering a future install of a sump pump?  If so, check out these important considerations from Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts regarding sump pumps and the sanitary sewer system:

Southgate prohibits unauthorized use or discharge into the District's sewer system. Please follow this link:  Microsoft Word - ARTICLE 9.doc (southgatedistricts.org) to read about the rules and regulations (article 9-7-2) Southgate could enforce if a property owner connects a sump pump to discharge to their private sewer service line.  

Overwhelming the sewage system. During a heavy rainstorm, the volume of water that sump pumps can move is more than the municipal sewer system and water treatment facility are designed to handle. If the sewer main gets overwhelmed, then wastewater can get backed up into your sewer line (under the property) or even into your home. This can result in a giant mess and health hazards. 

Environmental impact. When water treatment facilities are overloaded, they can dump sewage or only partially cleaned water into local water outlets, which is harmful to the environment.

Issues selling your house. If you’re looking to sell your home and your sump pump is incorrectly hooked up, it may get flagged during a home inspection.

Inaccurate water bills. Most municipalities or water authorities determine your water bills based on your water usage – basically how much water comes out of the faucet. But your water bill usually accounts for both your fresh water supply and upkeep for the sewage system. So, if your sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer (which the water department can’t track or bill for), you’re using service that you aren’t paying for – which some consider stealing. 

*For more information regarding Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts specifications regarding underdrain systems, please follow this link:  https://southgatedistricts.org/DocumentCenter/View/140/Sanitary-Sewer-System-Specifications?bidId=

AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of life.

In partnership with Hazen, the Southgate Water and Sanitation Districts revolutionized their master plan, transforming from a static binder of paper to a powerful digital dashboard that can be updated in real-time and accessed from anywhere.

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