Three Lakes Water & Sanitation District 2025 Community Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of an online survey of 101 registered voters in the Three Lakes Water & Sanitation District. The interviews were conducted from February 19th to March 6th , 2025.

Registered voters in the Three Lakes Water & Sanitation District were broadly familiar with the District and the services it provided, with 92% reporting they were very or somewhat familiar. The District’s Board of Directors held a net favorable rating, with 51% viewing the Board favorably (29% very, 22% somewhat) and 23% viewing it unfavorably. Job approval for the District’s wastewater treatment services was stronger, with 67% approving (44% strongly, 23% somewhat) and 11% disapproving.

Voters rated the District’s service and reliability positively, with 63% rating it excellent or good (39% excellent, 24% good), 13% rating it fair or poor, and 24% unsure or with no opinion. Ratings for value of services relative to rates paid were similar, with 52% rating value excellent or good and 27% rating it fair or poor. Nearly half of voters — 46% — agreed the District was fiscally responsible and spent taxpayer money wisely, while 18% disagreed and 36% were unsure. A slim majority, 51%, agreed wastewater treatment taxes were fair, 24% disagreed, and 25% were unsure.

Exposure to information about the District and its projects was limited, with 46% reporting they had seen, read, or heard at least some information and 41% reporting none at all. Familiarity with the septic to sewer conversion program was also limited, with only 36% reporting they were very or somewhat familiar and 51% not familiar at all. Despite low familiarity, initial support for the conversion program was positive once a basic description was provided, with 66% supporting (41% strongly, 25% somewhat) and 21% opposing.

Voters responded strongly to information about the District covering the full cost of main line construction through federal and state grants and capital reserves, with 74% saying this made them more likely to support the program and only 14% less likely. Support softened when voters learned that homes and businesses within 400 feet of the main lines would be required to pay for their own connection costs, with 53% more likely to support the program knowing this and 32% less likely. Learning that the buildout would allow the remaining 18% of households on septic systems to eventually connect moved 61% of voters toward greater support and 25% toward less support.

Public health and environmental arguments were among the strongest drivers of support. Learning that aging septic systems were leaking into wells, soil, streams, and lakes moved 73% of voters toward greater support. The finding that some neighbors had discovered E. coli in their well water likely due to leaking septic systems moved 70% toward greater support. The argument that a centralized sewer system was good for community public health moved 72% toward greater support, and learning that the District’s formation pre-dated the EPA moved 65% toward greater support.

The environmental stakes specific to the Three Lakes area were also compelling. Voters were told that Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Lake Granby served as headwaters for both the Colorado River and the Big Thompson River, and that these lakes faced higher contamination risk from aging septic systems. This information moved 72% of voters toward greater support and only 12% toward less support. After reading all the information provided about the program, overall support increased to 74% (52% strongly, 22% somewhat), while opposition held at 21%.

Those who supported the conversion program cited three primary reasons: protecting lakes, rivers, wells, and groundwater from contamination; reducing public health risks associated with failing septic systems; and upgrading aging infrastructure to support long-term community growth and property values. Those who opposed the program raised concerns about the financial burden of individual connection costs, particularly for residents on fixed incomes; argued that their existing septic systems were functional and did not pose a meaningful threat; and expressed frustration with what they described as a lack of clear communication, transparency, and honesty from the District about costs, timelines, and priorities.

On a separate ballot question, voters were asked whether they would support eliminating the three-term limit for District board directors. Opposition outweighed support, with 47% saying they would vote no (27% definitely, 20% probably) and 35% saying they would vote yes (15% definitely, 20% probably), while 18% were undecided. Only 10% of voters reported experiencing water quality issues such as color or taste problems in the past year, while 90% had not. The survey sample skewed older and was predominantly homeowners, with 52% of respondents aged 65 or older, 97% owning their homes, and 75% identifying as full-time residents.