firestone’s water crisis.

For decades, Firestone relied on stable water partnerships. But in recent years, the Town has pursued lawsuits, withheld payments, and attempted to seize land — alienating both CWCWD and SVSD. This ongoing pattern of conflict over cooperation is now creating a looming water crisis for residents.

Firestone’s future water needs cannot be met by the St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP) alone. The Town’s own projections show that by 2030, residents will demand nearly 12,000 acre-feet per year, while the SVWTP — even with planned expansion — can only meet about 47% of that demand. This gap requires collaboration and diversified water sources.

Instead, Firestone has created a crisis by undermining long-standing partnerships and pursuing costly litigation at the expense of taxpayers.

    • 1974 – Firestone signs a long-term agreement with Central Weld County Water District (CWCWD) as its exclusive potable water provider.

    • 2009–2010 — CWCWD adopts a new rate structure (notice Sept. 30, 2009; effective Jan. 1, 2010).

    • 2018 - Firestone begins disputes with CWCWD over rates.

    • 2019 - Firestone finalizes the design of the St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP).

    • December 2019 - The Town files for groundwater rights on St. Vrain Sanitation District (SVSD) property. The Water Court rejects the claim, citing risks to existing water rights.

    • 2021–2023 — Firestone engages in litigation and settlement battles with CWCWD.

    • 2025 (early) – Colorado Supreme Court upholds the ruling against Firestone for rights to SVSD groundwater.

    • May 22, 2025 — CWCWD issues Firestone a delinquency notice for unpaid charges.

    • May 28, 2025 — CWCWD’s district manager attends a Firestone Board meeting, indicating the district’s willingness to discuss the issues publicly.

    • 2025 (mid-year) – Firestone escalates tensions by filing eminent domain to seize SVSD land instead of pursuing collaboration.

    • June 2025 — Firestone files another lawsuit against CWCWD, in addition to seeking a temporary restraining order; a court initially grants temporary relief while the case proceeds.

    • August 21, 2025 – CWCWD’s board votes unanimously to terminate the contract in three years, citing “unworkable and unsustainable” conditions due to "mounting challenges with the Town of Firestone’s current management and Board of Trustees."

    • Sept. 5, 2025 — Weld County District Court denies the Town’s motion for a preliminary injunction related to the billing dispute (the underlying lawsuit continues).

    • August 21, 2028 – Termination date takes effect. Per the contract, CWCWD exercised its legal right to end service with three years’ notice.

  • The Town of Firestone is legally obligated to ensure residents have safe, reliable water service. When a third party (such as Central Weld County Water District) discontinues service, Firestone must secure alternate water delivery mechanisms or providers.

    Responsibility for meeting this need lies with the Town Board, while state regulators enforce water quality and hold officials accountable through transparency laws, public meetings, and elections.

    Central Weld County Water District (CWCWD) is not responsible for supplying water after the contract expiration date in 2028. Its only duty is to honor the agreement as written.

  • Yes — unless the Town Board secures a new water source before August 21, 2028.

    The Town of Firestone is legally responsible for providing water to its residents. Colorado law gives municipalities authority to construct, operate, and maintain water facilities and to regulate the water supply used in the municipality for domestic purposes. That means it is the Town Board’s duty to ensure Firestone families continue to have access to potable water.

    The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulates and enforces safe drinking water but does not step in to directly run municipal systems. If the Town fails to secure water, CDPHE can hold the Town in violation. Liability for failure to operate or maintain a public water facility can fall on the Town.

    If the Town Board does nothing, residents could lose access to potable water after August 23, 2028.

  • Firestone has long depended on Colorado–Big Thompson water treated through Central Weld County Water District’s (CWCWD) Carter Lake Filter Plant.

    Despite efforts by Firestone to diversify its water portfolio through the construction of the St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP), the diversification was intended to augment, not replace, CWCWD’s supply.

    The Town’s Water Action Plan projects 11,960 acre-feet per year of demand by 2030. Even when fully built out, the St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant can supply only about 5,600 acre-feet per year — less than half of what’s needed. Without the outside water Firestone now receives, residents would face a shortfall of roughly 6,360 acre-feet/year unless new sources are secured.

  • Firestone’s future water needs cannot be met by the St. Vrain Water Treatment Plant (SVWTP) alone.

    One potential source is the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), which would provide Firestone 1,300 acre-feet of water. However, it requires major new reservoirs and pipelines, with project costs estimated at $1.2 billion (Firestone Water Portfolio).

    Even with planned expansions, the SVWTP will still fall short of meeting demand. Any further upgrades would be extremely costly and would not be completed in time to serve as the only solution.

    Other options—such as acquiring agricultural water rights, drilling wells, or building connections with neighboring providers—also come with significant legal, financial, and infrastructure hurdles that drive up costs.

    The most practical, cost-free solution is to repair Firestone’s relationship with Central Weld County Water District, which has historically provided reliable service. Rather than forcing residents to pay for expensive and uncertain alternatives, a new Board can rebuild that partnership to protect our finances and the future of our water.

  • Firestone does not need to invent costly new projects or fight its neighbors in court. Repairing relationships with existing partners is the fastest, most cost‑effective way to secure water for the community. By working with CWCWD and SVSD, Firestone could focus resources on meeting future demand instead of utilizing public money on lawsuits.

    CWCWD’s statement that it cannot continue under the “mounting challenges with the Town of Firestone’s current management and Board of Trustees” suggests that a different board could have an opportunity to repair the relationship and restore the partnership.