WATER:

If you are purchasing an existing property, typically the title company will contact WLWD prior to or at closing to provide your information so the water service account for the property can be transferred into your name.  WLWD charges a $50 transfer fee which is typically collected at closing.

ELECTRICITY:

Contact DOUGLAS COUNTY - CORE - 5496 US-85, Sedalia, CO 80135. Phone: (303) 688-3100 to arrange for service to your property. We will coordinate with them as necessary, should that be required. In case of outages, call 1-844-IREA FIX (473-2349/1).

PROPANE:

If your property requires propane, there are multiple providers who service Westcreek including Glaser Energy, Global Propane, Mile Hi Energy, and FerrellGas.  You would need to contact the existing provider to setup service and filling.

TRASH:

Trash removal is the responsiblity of individual owners. The dominant provider within WLWD is Apex Waste Solutions (formerly Waste Management/Teller County Waste).  Contact a provider directly for pricing and availability. While there are some instances of neighbors banding together to share the cost of a dumpster(s), this is managed among the neighbors themselves.  No waste company provides "community" service.

CenturyLink provides land line phone service in Westcreek in addition to ADSL internet up to 40 mbps. Contact CenturyLink directly to arrange service with them. Note that landline phone service does not operate in a power outage.

Recently, many residents have begun to use Starlink for internet service at considerably higher speeds than are available through CenturyLink.  Contact Starlink directly to arrange service.

WATER OUTAGES – can be a potential consequence of prolonged electrical outages (think reduced heat, frozen pipes, etc.). The WLWD water system has a backup generator which should ensure water availability through outages less than 24 hours. BEFORE you find yourself without water - plan for and store POTABLE water in a safe place. Remember, your toilet won’t work either…look online for suggestions on how to “recycle”/use “gray water”. Fill your bath tub(s) and sinks if there is time…not always an option. Know where your IN-HOUSE WATER SHUT OFF VALVE(S) is/are, ahead of time. Trying to find them in an emergency situation can be really frustrating. This shutoff is different from the residential water line shut off. Know where your RESIDENTIAL STANDPIPE SHUTOFF is…and do you have a way to turn it off? If your answer is NO, we can help.

Every house (excluding well water supplied homes) has a water shutoff standpipe. Contact your water board if you don’t know where yours is.

Again, an ounce of prevention can be worth its weight in headaches when you find yourself trying to control in-house water loss following a water line break. Does your water system have a pressure regulator in-line at the point where the water line enters your house? If so…is it functional? This simple device can reduce your worries throughout the year by reducing the risk of damages associated with water pressure surges.

ELECTRIC OUTAGES - The number of electrical outages per year over the past 15 years has decreased substantially, but we are still, and always will be, vulnerable due to overhead service lines. Outages, as a rule, do not last more than “several” hours, but can last as many as 3+ days. It’s not something to ignore as one of the conditions for “living rural”.

First, call the CORE emergency reporting # ( @ 1-844-IREA FIX (473-2349)/1 and report. The more people reporting, the more accurate the information they have to respond to. Use the prompts…you won’t talk to anyone but the system does work. Seek a neighbor’s assistance. You can also do the following to prepare for such events in advance - have alternate lighting sources (flashlights, etc), have battery operated radio for communication and weather warnings, reports etc), have backup electrical generator.

Have a FIRST AID KIT, have alternative phone source, have alternative refrigeration for critical medications, etc., any medical devices requiring electric power - have alternative heat source(s) (and think about carbon monoxide risks).

The lake/reservoir (legally known as JO Hill Reservoir and colloquially as Pine Lake) is private and for the use of Westcreek Lakes Water District property owners and long term lessees (1+ year) ONLY (and friends/family if accompanied by a qualified or property owner). Our lake becomes VERY POPULAR during the summer months and we ask that every resident/property owner help keep it a fun place to gather, cool off, fish (with appropriate community fishing badge only), and boat (NO GASOLINE MOTORS ALLOWED). A copy of the current lake use policies (promulgated by the Pine Lake Fishing Club) is available when purchasing the required community fishing badges. Fishing badges (2) are currently $100.00/year.  See Pine Lake Fishing Club page for more information

Additionally, the following official policies apply:

2018-06-20 Resolution-Lake Use

2018-06-20 Lake Use Letter

WLWD is NOT RESPONSIBLE for routine, regular or daily snow clearing of the private roads located within the community (all roads beyond Westcreek Road are private). WLWD is responsible for maintaining year round access for all water services throughout the community. Currently this is defined as (limited) snow clearing during snow season FOR ACCESS TO buried water lines and equipment (defined as those roadways necessary to access buried water lines and equipment). To date, the community has banded together to accomplish passable roads throughout the snow season but it is expected that each property owner consider “pitching in” with snow clearing activities. ALL SNOW CLEARING WORK IS DONE WITH PERSONAL EQUIPMENT AND “SWEAT EQUITY”.

The exception is Westcreek Road itself, which is a County Road maintained by Douglas County.

Short term rentals (STRs) are regulated by and subject to the land use regulations of Douglas County. The County has significant requirements which all STR owners in the County are required to follow. More information can be found on the Douglas County website.

Please note that tenants/guests of STRs are NOT allowed to use the community lake without a property owner present.

WLWD has additionally a longstanding policy regarding excess occupancy of properties which can be reviewed here:

2021-05-19 Excess Occupancy Penalties Resolution 5-21 

Our community is a desirable place to own property for many reasons.  However, mountain living does not come without challenges.

First, all lots within WLWD are zoned for rural residential purposes and associated Douglas County land use regulations and ordinances apply.  These include no temporary structures such as sheds or shipping containers on undeveloped lots.  Review these regulations with Douglas County thoroughly as they are strictly enforced and subject to periodic change.

Prior to any construction plans, it is advisable to research the cost of bringing necessary utilities to the property.  Costs to extend electric and water infrastructure where none currently exists can be substantial.  Core Electric can provide input as to electric matters. Water wise, members of the WLWD Management or Board will be happy to visit with you and advise.  Simply reach out through the Contact form on the home page.

With a handful of exceptions, Tap Fees have not been paid on most undeveloped lots in WLWD and would be payable prior to water service connection. See the following documents for more information:

2025-01 WLWD New Water Service Policies and Procedures 

2025-01 New Water Tap Application 

Lastly, know that yearly property taxes are much higher on vacant land than developed homes in Douglas County.  Be sure to research your total cost of ownership.

No.

While Covenant documents were filed with Douglas County by the original developers and later in the 1980s, there exists no HOA/POA with which to enforce them.  Douglas County is the prevailing land use authority within WLWD and all associated ordinances and regulations apply.