Denver Water’s city agencies successfully reduced the city’s chances of overpaying for city water and sewer services, according to a recent auditor’s report.

Denver Water is an outside agency overseeing water services for residents, businesses, contractors and city buildings. It is not a direct agency with Denver, but the city charter allows auditors to audit Denver Water and its partner city agencies.

Denver auditors conducted its original Denver Water audit in 2022. Auditors inspected Denver Water’s agencies with the city: the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure and the General Services department.

That audit revealed the city of Denver wasn’t checking whether it could receive government discounts on water services.

City charter requires that Denver Water can’t bill more than it costs to provide water to the city.

Also, the 2022 audit reported the Department of General Services didn’t properly review the city’s water bills, and that the Wastewater Management Division didn’t promptly check the accuracy of Denver Water sewer billing service fees.

“When we completed the audit there was still time to course correct,” Auditor Timothy O’Brien said in a statement. “I’m pleased to see the city took the opportunity to tighten up its financial accountability and ensure residents aren’t confused about their utilities.”

Auditors gave city departments five recommendations to follow up on. Within the past two years, Denver Water and its partners fulfilled all of its requirements to keep better track of how Denver can better spend on its water.

Auditor recommendations included reviewing the annual discounted governmental water rate, review water rates charged on monthly city water bills and for city officials to review Denver Water’s annual fees.

City departments, and Denver Water, fully implemented and reviewed auditor recommendations.

“This is the result we hope to see with every audit,” added O’Brien. “Denver is better off because the city agencies involved took our recommendations seriously and took action right away.”