Sump Pumps in Watkins, CO

Is my Watkins home on a well or a public system?

It depends on the address. Watkins is an unincorporated community with dry-farming and ranching roots, the westernmost community on the eastern I-70 corridor, bordering Aurora. No public water provider for Watkins was verified. Adams County's Water Master Plan says eastern Adams County relies mainly on Denver Basin groundwater, including self-supplied rural residents on wells. The Watkins post office sits inside Aurora city limits, though, so some Watkins-addressed properties may be in Aurora and on Aurora utilities. Your water bill, or the county, will tell you which.

Which backup works?

On a private well, a battery backup is the only dependable choice, because the well pump stops when the power does and a water-powered unit needs that pressure. If your address is on Aurora Water, a water-powered unit is possible, but Aurora Water requires any required backflow assembly to be tested at least yearly by a certified tester. A battery unit with a high-water alarm sidesteps both issues and handles the long outages that rural lines can see.

Where should the discharge go, and do newer homes need special care?

Onto open ground sloped away from the house. If you are on a sewer system, keep sump water out of the drains; if your home is not on municipal sewer, keep it away from the private onsite wastewater system and any wellhead. Census survey figures put Watkins' median build year at 2002, with about 25% of homes built before 1980, and recent additions include a neighborhood of nearly 100 homes. A builder pump in a newer basement may rarely run, so test it before spring. On open plains lots, give the outdoor line a steady slope so wind and cold do not freeze it in place.

A permit note

On the Adams County side, the county's One Stop Permitting Center requires permits for plumbing modifications. The Arapahoe County side goes through the Arapahoe County Building Division, and Watkins addresses inside Aurora follow City of Aurora rules. The plumber can confirm which applies, and can tell you during the visit whether a simple pump swap needs any permit at all. If you are not sure which side of the county line you are on, your property tax notice will say.