How much notice is required to sign up for service?

What forms of payment can I use to pay my bill?

I noticed baseball fields at Cimarron Eastridge Park. Can I reserve them?

Where does Cherokee get its water?
Our water comes from seventeen municipal wells located in the Upper Black Squirrel Creek Basin. Eight wells are located approximately ten miles north of Ellicott. Currently, these wells are not being used for out of basin use (most of Cherokee's customer base lays outside the basin) due to a court ruling limiting their use. The remaining nine wells are located ten miles south of Ellicott and currently provide all water for the District. All of the wells pump water from an alluvial aquifer located 150 - 200 feet below the ground. Through natural filtering processes the water has been purified and meets safe drinking water standards. Return to top.

Why are there water restrictions if there has been so much precipitation lately?
Our current water restrictions are not due to drought or the level of precipitation received. Restrictions have been implemented due to a court ruling limiting the use of eight of our seventeen supply wells. These eight wells account for 40% of our total water supply. To ensure that our customers have an adequate supply, we have implemented water restrictions to control water usage from the remaining nine wells. Return to top.

Does Cherokee have enough water?
Yes, by carefully monitoring and controlling the use of water from our nine southern wells, we can provide an adequate supply to our customers. Return to top.

Why did our rates increase again?
Despite our best efforts to anticipate and forecast future costs and economic conditions, rate increases are necessary to keep up with changing times. Some of the challenges impacting the District and creating the need for recent rate increases are: Return to top.

Key Factors

• Meeting the minimum requirements for our current outstanding bonds
• Loss of tap fee income

Water

• Funding several water resource acquisitions in 2010
• Cherokee leased 500 acre feet of water from Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) in 2009. A new 2010 lease agreement increases the amount of water available from 500 to 1,000 acre feet but also increases the cost from $1,100 to over $3,000 per acre foot
• Leasing a minimum of 500 acre feet of water from CSU at a cost of $1.8 million to maintain current service levels
• The Board of Directors does not want to impose additional conservation measures, as they consider Stage 2 the minimum level needed to maintain property values and a quality standard of living
• Although a stay of enforcement was granted for supply wells 14-17, the timing and final decision of the Colorado Supreme Court will impact our available water supply. An adverse decision will require us to lease the additional 500 acre feet from CSU to offset production loss
• Investing in the replacement and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure to ensure a safe and dependable water supply

Wastewater

• Increasing our workforce to oversee facility operations at the new Cherokee Metropolitan District Water Reclamation Facility
• A significant increase in operational expenses associated with running a mechanical wastewater treatment facility. Return to top.

Can I attend Board meetings?
Yes, we encourage our customers to attend Board meetings to learn more about our organization. Meetings are held at our office the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Return to top.

How do I sign up for service?
Renters (businesses included) are required to visit our office to sign up for service. You will need to fill out a short application and provide a $50.00 deposit.

Customers who are owners or purchasing the property to be serviced simply need to call our office to sign up for service. Return to top.

I am buying a home in your District. Do I need to pay a deposit?
No, only renters are required to pay the $50.00 deposit to activate service. Return to top.

If I am a renting a home in your District, why do I have to pay a $50.00 deposit?
The deposit is used to help pay for your final bill once you terminate service with Cherokee. Your deposit will accrue interest until you final your account. Return to top.

Is the deposit refundable?
Yes, your deposit and the accrued interest will be applied to your final bill. Return to top.

How much notice is required to sign up for service?
Cherokee requires at least 24 hours advanced notice to activate new service. Return to top.

I moved into my home this weekend and have no water.
How do I get my water on?
To ensure that your water service is on before you move in, please contact our office during business hours to establish service. However, if you are not able to do so or if you consider it to be an emergency, call 597-5080 and our answering service will contact our on-call service technician to assist you. Per our policy the water will not be turned on until the following day. For example: If you call on a Friday night at 9:00 p.m., your water will not be turned on until Saturday morning. Renters will need to pay the service technician the $50.00 deposit to activate service. Return to top.

How do I terminate service?
Cherokee requires at least 24 hours advanced notice to terminate service. To close your account simply call our office and provide the requested information, including your desired termination date. (Note: Final readings are taken only Monday - Friday.) Return to top.

Can services be automatically transferred back to the owner?
No, we require the individual requesting service to contact our office to activate a new account. Return to top.

Why is my residential water bill $36.32, but I didn't use any water?
Provided service has a base charge of $36.32 per month. This includes a $26.93 Wastewater Charge, an $8.21 Availability Charge and a $1.18 Street Light Charge. If you have an active account with Cherokee and use no water, you will still be charged $36.32 each month.. Return to top.

What is the Availability Charge?
This charge covers the portion of fixed expenses incurred each month regardless of the amount of water used. Return to top.

Do you offer utility bill payment assistance?
Cherokee does not currently offer any payment assistance programs. Please contact the United Way at 2-1-1 or visit www.ppunitedway.org to determine if you qualify for financial assistance. Return to top.

I moved but I am still receiving a bill, why is this?
If you have moved out of the District and are still receiving a bill, you most likely did not contact our office to terminate services. You will be responsible for any balance owing until you request a final reading to deactivate your account. Return to top.

What forms of payment can I use to pay my bill?
We accept checks and money order payments via mail. Payments can also be made at our office using checks, money orders, cash or credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard and Discover). We also accept credit/debit card payments over the phone with a $2.50 transaction fee. Return to top.

Why do you charge a $2.50 transaction fee for credit/debit card payments over the phone?
This is a convenience charge to cover expenses associated with credit card fees billed to Cherokee. Return to top.

When will I be able to pay my bill online?
We are currently working to identify online payment options and will notify our customers when this service becomes available. We currently have several payment options available for your convenience. Return to top.

Do you have any drop boxes available in town to drop off payments?
Yes, we have one 24 hour drop box located on the west end of our building located at 6250 Palmer Park Blvd. (Note: Please do not place cash in the drop box, we are not responsible for any loss). Return to top.

Why was my water turned off when I have until 5:00 p.m. on the disconnect date to pay my bill?
Disconnections begin at 8:00 a.m. on the disconnect date. If we have not received your payment by 8:00 a.m., your water will be turned off between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the disconnect date shown on your notice. Return to top.

Why was my water turned off if I haven't received a bill?
Unfortunately, we cannot control the U.S. Postal Service and it’s ultimately the customer’s responsibility to contact the office if monthly statements are not received. If your bill doesn’t arrive when expected, please contact our office, as customer service representatives are available to verify your billing address and any balance due. Return to top.

Are there any fees to have my service reconnected due to a disconnection?
Yes, you will be required to pay your full balance owing plus a $25.00 reconnect fee during business hours (Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) to reconnect services. If it is after hours, a weekend or a holiday, you will be required to pay the full balance plus a $45.00 reconnect fee. Return to top.

Why do you charge a reconnect fee to turn my water back on?
The reconnect fee covers labor and travel expenses associated with the disconnection and reconnection of your service. Return to top.

It's after hours and I have an emergency. What should I do?
Immediately call 597-5080 to contact our answering service, they will relay a message to our on call service technician. Our service technician will contact you to address your emergency. Return to top.

I noticed a street light that is out or not working properly. How can I get it fixed?
Contact our office at 597-5080 to describe the problem you are experiencing and the street light location. We will contact Mountain View Electric or Colorado Springs Utilities to have the problem fixed. Repairs generally take four to six weeks. Return to top.

Why do I have to pay a street light fee if there is no street light near my home?
The street light fee covers all expenses to operate all street lights within the District including major thoroughfares. Expenses include electrical and maintenance costs. Return to top.

Do you have a park with a playground, restrooms and picnic tables?
Yes, Cimarron Eastridge Park, located at Constitution Avenue and Shawnee Drive has all of these amenities plus a pavilion and baseball fields. Restrooms are available only if the pavilion has been reserved (see below). In addition, Fredericksburg Park, located at Fredericksburg Road and Petersburg Court has a playground and picnic tables. Return to top.

I noticed a pavilion at Cimarron Eastridge Park. Can I reserve it for a party?
Yes, to reserve the pavilion call or visit our office to check availability. Reservations require a $25.00 non-refundable deposit and a $50.00 or $75.00 refundable damage deposit. Restroom facilities will be cleaned prior to your reservation and made available for your use. Your damage deposit will be mailed back to you upon inspection of the facilities after your reservation. Return to top.

I noticed baseball fields at Cimarron Eastridge Park. Can I reserve them?
Yes, baseball fields may be used on a first come first serve basis unless they have been reserved. Stop by our office if you would like to reserve a baseball field. One or both fields may be reserved for $5.00/hour per field. Return to top.

Why are we conserving water if there has been so much precipitation lately?
Our current water conservation is not due to drought or the level of precipitation received. A Water Conservation Plan has been implemented due to a court ruling limiting the use of eight of our seventeen supply wells. These eight wells account for 40% of our total water supply. To ensure that our customers have an adequate supply, we have implemented watering guidelines to manage water usage from the remaining nine wells. Return to top.

 

WATER CONSERVATION FAQ's

Can I wash my vehicle?
Will we always have water restrictions?
When can I buy a sod permit, how do I get one and how much do they cost?
How long can I water with a permit?

Stage 2 Conservation is in effect until October 31, 2010. Please see the table below for watering guidelines. Return to top.

STAGE	MONTHS	GUIDELINES	ADDRESSES		DURATION	WATERING TIMES
			ODD	EVEN
2	April - October	Lawns: Two days per week	Tuesday Saturday	Wednesday Sunday	Two hours per day	Before 9 am After 6 pm
		Trees, flowers, shrubs, gardens: Any day Before 9 a.m. After 6 p.m.
		Car washing: Any day Anytime

Can I wash my vehicle?
Vehicles may be washed in accordance with the current Conservation Stage, please see the guidelines column in the above table to determine car washing status. Return to top.

Will we always be subject to water restrictions?
Yes, we are committed to promoting the responsible use of our limited resource and have submitted a Water Conservation Plan to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which has been approved. To that end we will always be in one stage of our water conservation plan. To achieve this goal it is important to make every effort to conserve and provide water for both current and future generations. Return to top

When can I buy a sod/seed permit, how do I get one and how much do they cost?
Sod/seed permits will be available April 1, 2010 through May 14, 2010 and September 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010, and allow for the installation of up to 1,500 square feet of sod or seed. Visit our Sod Permit Page for additional information. Return to top.

How long can I water with a permit?
Permits allow daily watering for a four-week period to establish newly installed sod or seed. Return to top.