About Our Water

The water division is responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy community by delivering high quality water to the citizens of Cortez for household uses, yard irrigation, and business uses. The water services provided by the city include: line installation, maintenance and replacement; water treatment; meter reading; and distribution. The City also treats and provides water to Towaoc and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.

Cortez is blessed with the high quality Dolores River water out of McPhee Reservoir with which to begin the water treatment process. All water processed by the treatment plant is from McPhee Reservoir. View a copy of the latest CCR (Consumer Confidence Report). A copy of this year's water conservation brochure is also available.

Fees from residents and commercial users pay for the expenses incurred to operate the Water Division. As an "enterprise" fund, no extra financial support is needed from the City's general fund. View a copy of current water rates.

The City recently completed our Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP).  After a multi-year effort, we now have a Plan to help us protect our drinking water supply.

The water distribution system is planned and sized to provide for home and business uses, as well as fire protection. The minimum size distribution line installed in residential areas is a 6” line. Commercial area and feeder lines are usually 8” or 12” diameter lines. The cross connection administrator monitors/inspects backflow prevention assemblies on all waterline connections.

The City has an aggressive water line replacement program to replace lines that may be starting to deteriorate or are not up to the City's standards. Materials of existing water lines include cast-iron, ductile iron, and C-900 PVC.