Barefoot Lakes
Let’s address recent misinformation with transparency, accuracy and respect.
As a public utility and Title 32 Special District, we understand how important it is to communicate with transparency and integrity, especially with complex issues. We wanted to clarify Little Thompson Water District’s (LTWD) role in serving the Barefoot Lakes community and our planning efforts for your future water supply. We’re committed to keeping you informed with facts—not fear.
What’s actually going on?
LTWD has served Barefoot Lakes with clean, reliable water since the first tap was issued in February of 2016 using water rights dedicated by Barefoot Lakes and treatment at the Carter Lake Filter Plant. As Barefoot Lakes grows, LTWD must invest in additional treatment and delivery infrastructure. In fact, as a Title 32 Special District, we are legally required to do so since Barefoot Lakes is within our service boundaries.
Recent discussions have raised confusion about where Barefoot Lakes’ water comes from and how water will be delivered in the future. While no immediate threat exists to water service, decisions about infrastructure and treatment capacity must be made now to ensure future demand can be supplied at a reasonable price.
LTWD has been engaged in discussions regarding future treatment capacity needed to support Barefoot Lakes’ growth. As planning evolves, the District is focused on securing reliable, long-term treatment solutions that ensure continued service at a reasonable cost.
We’ve compiled key facts and resources to help you understand the full picture
- Learn: How Barefoot Lakes gets its water
- Understand: Where your water comes from and how it's treated
- See: Growth projections and infrastructure needs
- Explore: Your FAQs, Answered with facts
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click to expand each section
No, not today. The water rights for Barefoot Lakes were dedicated in 2005 and are being used for your community. Water is currently treated at the Carter Lake Filter Plant and reliably delivered. As a Title 32 Special District, LTWD is not only committed, but legally obligated, to continue providing water service to our customers, regardless of the outcome of any current planning discussions with the Town of Firestone.
Barefoot Lakes’ water supply comes from two sources:
- Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) water (23% of Barefoot’s supply)
- Windy Gap water, including a planned reuse component for long-term supply (77% of Barefoot’s supply)
The water rights dedicated by the Barefoot Lakes developer were sized to meet the projected full build-out. However, treatment and delivery infrastructure will need to expand to keep up with demand.
Water for Barefoot Lakes is currently treated at the Carter Lake Filter Plant and delivered through infrastructure managed by LTWD and its partner since 1967, Central Weld County Water District. The remaining treated supply required for future growth of Barefoot Lakes will require additional treatment capacity. LTWD is working with seven other water providers to collaborate on a new regional water treatment plant to treat second-use water and ensure sufficient infrastructure is in place to meet full build-out demand. LTWD has evaluated multiple approaches over the years to secure future treatment capacity. As planning continues, the District remains focused on identifying the most responsible and cost-effective long-term solution for ratepayers.
The Windy Gap water rights fluctuate, meaning we cannot anticipate a steady supply from this water right every year. We are looking to improve the reliability of Windy Gap water by storing it in the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project, a collaboration between 12 northeastern Colorado water providers to improve the reliability of water supplies from the Windy Gap Project.
One additional way we have planned to make the Windy Gap water meet the development needs of Barefoot Lakes is through reuse. After indoor, potable water is used, it is treated at the St. Vrain Sanitation District’s wastewater treatment plant, then returned to the St. Vrain Creek. The reuse of the Windy Gap water is intended to divert LTWD's water from the St. Vrain Creek and pipe it to a future treatment facility, where the water will be treated and returned to LTWD’s water system for customer use. The District is working collaboratively to identify an appropriate location and water treatment technology to treat second-use water and support long-term system reliability. This water is fully treated and safe for human consumption. Without this project, the water supply will be 83% of what it was intended. This could result in more frequent watering restrictions to balance the reduced supply.
In November 2025, LTWD and the Town of Firestone mutually dissolved the St. Vrain Water Treatment Authority. This organizational change does not affect current water service to Barefoot Lakes.
As the community grows, additional treatment capacity will be required. LTWD is actively evaluating long-term infrastructure options, including identifying an appropriate location and water treatment technology for a facility that will treat second-use water.
Our priority is ensuring reliable service while minimizing cost impacts to ratepayers and meeting all regulatory standards.
Yes. The developer of Barefoot Lakes dedicated enough water for the Barefoot Lakes customers, just like LTWD requires all developers to do for new communities. Barefoot Lakes currently includes approximately 1,200 residential and commercial taps, and is expected to grow to 3,800 at full build-out. The water rights dedicated by the Barefoot Lakes developer meet the projected demand at full build-out when it includes the treatment of the reuse of the Windy Gap water. The water that makes the Barefoot Lakes community’s water supply whole is already in place – it is the treatment of that water that needs to be secured, along with construction of the infrastructure to get it to LTWD in order to accommodate future demand. That’s why securing additional treatment capacity that is located closer to the St. Vrain River than the Carter Lake Filter Plant is, and completing the necessary infrastructure improvements is critical.
No. The water rights dedicated by Barefoot Lakes are managed by LTWD to ensure delivery to the Barefoot Lakes community. Water is carefully allocated based on supply conditions and demand, and no reallocation has occurred.
For any service questions or billing inquiries, contact us at (970) 532-2096 or send us a message through our contact form. The Town of Firestone may separately bill for items like stormwater or street lighting, but your water provider is Little Thompson Water District.
Bookmark this page—we’ll post updates as they become available. You’re also welcome to attend upcoming LTWD Board of Directors meetings and participate during public comment.
What’s next?
We are continuing conversations with the Town of Firestone and remain hopeful about finding a collaborative solution. In the meantime, LTWD is actively planning alternatives to ensure reliable service, as required by law as a Title 32 Special District, regardless of the outcome. We’ve hired engineers to evaluate long-term infrastructure options, including raw water quality, new pipelines and potential treatment capacity investments.
Our responsibility is to you – our ratepayers
LTWD continues to plan proactively for future treatment needs. Engineers are evaluating long-term infrastructure options, including raw water quality considerations, new pipelines and treatment capacity investments to support Barefoot Lakes at full build-out.
Have more questions? Contact us here.