Water & Wastewater Utilities

Problems may include, but are not limited to:

• Suspected water main break
• Very low water pressure
• Sudden loss of water service
• Sewer backup in home/business

To report a problem:

• Non-emergency issues: 970-344-344-5015 or Report a Concern
  Monday - Thursday: 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, Friday 7:00 am - 11:00 am 
• Emergency issues: 970-556-6184
• Billing issues: (loss of service, non-payment): Utility Billing

Prior to any plans requiring digging or excavation, utility lines (water, gas, electric, sewer, phone, cable) must be located and marked by the utility service provider before any work is started and before it is safe to dig. Failure to do this could lead to damage of an underground utility line, potential service outages, restoration costs, and physical injury or death.

Who do to call?

The Town of Berthoud utilizes a centralized service for Property owners or licensed contractors to schedule utility locates. Three days prior to any excavation, please call 811, or 800-922-1987. It is recommended that you use white paint to show the area where the digging will occur to help the locaters.  When calling for locates, please have the following information ready:

• Physical Address
• Your name
• Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project)
• Type of work (landscaping, foundation, sprinkler system, etc.)
• Extent of work (depth, specific location, etc.)
• Access issues (i.e., dog in yard, locked gate, etc.)
• Contact name and number

What happens after my call?

Representatives from the various utilities will come to your property and mark the location of the underground lines with colored paint. (See below what utility each color represents.)  If access is an issue, such as a dog in the yard, locked gate, etc., the locater will respond by email to indicate that the locating work could not be completed and why; the customer must then call for a fresh locate when the condition has been addressed.

What do the colors mean?

Do not dig near the paths marked and flagged by locator's flags for the utility lines. 

• Yellow: Gas
• Orange: Communications -- Internet, Cable TV, Phone
• Blue: Water
• Purple: Irrigation
• Green: Sanitary

Are there other lines I need to know about?

If your electric meter is not attached to the house, then your property contains private electric lines that run from the meter to the home. In addition, sewer, water, and storm drainage lines all have private components to them, typically from the curbstop to the house. To have these marked or flagged, you must hire a private locating company – these lines will not be marked by the utility. It is your responsibility to have this done before work begins.

The Town of Berthoud allows for the use of fire hydrants as a bulk water source for construction, demolition, dust control, or similar purposes. If you need to draw water from a fire hydrant, you are required to rent a hydrant meter with a backflow preventer. 

A rental agreement and application authorize the applicant to operate a specified fire hydrant for the purpose of obtaining water on a temporary basis. Any unauthorized hookup or use of bulk water without prior approval is considered water theft and a fine of $1000 will be imposed. 

To access bulk water, please review the Rules and Regulations document, then complete and submit the Application and Agreement to Jeanette Andres for review and approval. 

• Fire Hydrant Meter Rental Application & Agreement (fillable PDF)
• Fire Hydrant Bulk Sales Rules and Regulations (PDF) 

Berthoud Water Infrastructure Updates

The Town of Berthoud is upgrading the Carter Lake Pipeline to improve water capacity, reliability, and access to Carter Lake. This project supports the Town’s goal of delivering safe, high-quality drinking water and reducing reliance on the Berthoud Reservoir as the community grows.

During construction, we may temporarily rely more on water from the Berthoud Reservoir. While still safe to drink, you might notice an “earthy” taste or smell. Below are common questions about this issue.

FAQ: Algae-related Taste and Odor in Drinking Water

Q:  Why does my water sometimes taste or smell earthy or musty?

A:   Naturally occurring compounds called Geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneol (MIB), produced by algae in lakes and reservoirs, can cause a noticeable earthy or musty flavor. These compounds are harmless but can be detected even in extremely low amounts—especially when water is heated.

Q:   Are these algae-related issues common in our region?

A:   Yes, algae and algal blooms are common in many places, including Northern Colorado. The blooms are caused by a combination of rising water temperatures, extended periods of sunlight, and high levels of nutrients in the water. These conditions can result in excessive algae growth.

Q:   What is the Town of Berthoud doing to address this?

A:   Geosmin and MIB cannot be removed during normal water treatment processes and require advanced treatment methods. Our water treatment team uses powdered activated carbon to reduce taste and odor. This method binds to the compounds and helps remove them from the water. If you still notice an earthy taste, refrigerating your water or adding a splash of lemon juice can help improve flavor.