Lark Meadows Water Association (LMWA) is a not-for-profit organization of homeowners that supplies potable well water to 31 specific properties in the Lark Meadows neighborhood near Lafayette, Colorado. Each homeowner is an equal-share owner of the water system, and the share automatically passes to the buyer when a house is sold.
The LMWA was established in the late 1960s and the water system has been in continuous operation since then. LMWA operates two deep wells, a pump house, a 40,000-gallon storage tank, water distribution pipelines, and associated infrastructure of the water system. Major improvements to the system were made in 1983 and various additional upgrades have been implemented since then.

As required by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we contract with a State-certified water system operator to check the pump house system weekly and obtain scheduled water samples to be tested for various possible contaminants. LMWA is required by the State to add chlorine to the water to prevent bacteria growth, but no other chemicals are added. Volatile organic compounds have not been detected in our water supply.
Although healthy in all mandated respects, our well water is very hard (high calcium and magnesium content), so using a good home water softener is recommended. Some homeowners also choose to use a whole-house sediment filter and/or an under-the-sink reverse osmosis filter for an additional level of water purity. Others choose to drink bottled water.

The LMWA Board consists of 3 to 8 volunteer members who manage the system and attend to many of the problems that may arise – this sometimes entails a lot of contributed time and effort. A meeting of the full 31-property membership is held annually to discuss all matters relevant to the water system and to vote on any proposed major changes. An announcement will be sent as soon as the time and date are finalized.

The paid bookkeeper bills each home on a monthly basis. Our preferred payment method is electronically via QuickBooks. Simply click "Pay Invoice" in the email you receive, then LOG IN to QuickBooks so that your saved payment information can be used automatically each month.

 

LMWA regulations do specify non-payment penalties, which may include water service shut-off after notification.
In our dry climate, summertime water conservation is necessary and LMWA regulations restrict summer lawn and garden watering hours (allowed hours are 5-9 a.m. or 6–10 p.m., not both).

NOTE: LMWA is not a homeowners’ association