Leak relief and household assistance

A high water bill may have a path to review

Hidden plumbing failures can produce an alarming bill before the problem is visible. This guide separates what Denver Water publicly describes from the practical steps every customer can take while requesting help.

Provider-specific review

What the public record says about a leak adjustment

A customer must have received a Denver Water bill and must submit the leak-adjustment webform within 12 months after the repair. Denver Water compares consumption during the leak with the property’s three-year average use during the same portion of the calendar year, then credits the charges attributable to estimated water loss after verifying a repair or correction that prevents additional loss. A single adjustment can cover no more than three consecutive monthly bills, and the operating rules limit the program to no more than two occurrences at a premises in a rolling 12-month period; after the first adjustment, a later adjustment requires a Denver Water audit and inspection. The customer should provide proof of repair, such as a paid invoice, plumber statement, parts receipt, or photographs, and should retain the account and meter-read details. Outdoor irrigation-system leaks during Denver Water’s recommended October 1–April 30 winterization period are excluded from adjustment eligibility.

Stop the loss

Shut off the failing fixture or supply and arrange a qualified repair.

Keep proof

Save dated invoices, parts receipts, photographs, and meter readings.

Request review

Submit the request promptly and keep paying any undisputed amount.

Utility assistance

Customer assistance and eligibility

Denver Water does not publish a permanent income-based CAP tariff or senior discount on its current residential billing pages. Its immediate hardship protection is operational: customers who keep the past-due balance below $100 are not at risk of a turn-off, and Customer Care can review full or partial payments, payment plans, and account-specific circumstances. The utility connects customers to the Mile High United Way 2-1-1 Help Center for multilingual, confidential hardship referrals; customers can dial 211, text a ZIP code to 898-211, or use 211Colorado.org. Denver Water also operates a no-fault main-break assistance program for qualifying property damage, including emergency mitigation, up to 14 days of temporary lodging at the federal lodging rate, uninsured personal-property payments up to $21,250, and vehicle deductible payments up to $1,000, subject to program conditions.

State and federal connections

Where to ask for broader aid

Denver Water’s current payment-help pages do not advertise a direct state or federal LIHWAP water-grant application. Instead, the utility partners with Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 Help Center, which screens and refers customers to Colorado and local hardship resources; customers may call 211, text their ZIP code to 898-211, or visit 211Colorado.org. Customers should contact Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444 before a turn-off so payment plans, partial payments, and outside-agency assistance can be coordinated to the correct account. Any Colorado energy or housing assistance is not automatically a Denver Water credit unless the assisting agency and utility confirm the payment.

Research status for this provider

4 of 4 relief signals publicly identified

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Emergency route

Published detail

Leak policy

Published detail

Utility aid

Published detail

State/federal aid

Published detail

Leak and assistance notes

Build the file before asking Denver Water for relief

A high bill can have several causes, including a hidden plumbing failure, irrigation use, a meter issue, a change in occupancy, or a rate adjustment. The provider’s leak policy determines whether any credit is available; an unusually high bill does not automatically qualify.

Keep a dated record of the reading, the suspected source, the repair, the contractor or parts receipt, and the return to normal use. Ask whether the utility requires a specific form, a licensed repair, a meter test, photos, or a request within a fixed number of days.

For income-related difficulty, ask about local assistance, payment arrangements, state programs, and community referrals separately from a leak adjustment. These programs often use different applications, documents, funding limits, and deadlines.

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