Lake County opts out of graywater control program, citing low demand and staffing burden
December 30, 2025 | Lake County, Colorado
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The Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 17 voted to adopt Resolution 2025-38 to opt out of the graywater control program and prohibit the use of graywater treatment systems within Lake County.
Anne Schneider, presenting the matter, said the recommendation came from the Board of Health and community planning staff after reviewing demand and regulatory implications. "There really generally isn't enough demand to warrant the expense and cost of creating an oversight program," Schneider said, adding that the county would monitor demand and could revisit the decision if requests increased.
Schneider told commissioners that establishing a graywater program would require permitting, inspection, compliance and enforcement functions and likely at least a part-time to full additional FTE. "I think that it would be an additional FTE," she said. She also noted the county is already engaged in substantial code work this year — including wildfire resiliency code, an energy-code update, building-code updates and state changes to septic/OWTS regulations — which stretches staff capacity and finances.
Commissioners discussed feasibility, noting graywater systems are uncommon among residents and retrofitting existing properties could be difficult though new construction might accommodate systems more readily. Staff emphasized public-health and groundwater-protection concerns if such systems were not properly overseen.
An unidentified commissioner moved to adopt Resolution 2025-38 to opt out of the graywater control program; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. Schneider and staff were thanked after the vote.
Why it matters: The resolution prohibits county-level use of graywater treatment systems and represents a policy choice to forego establishing an oversight program now, citing limited demand and current staffing and regulatory workloads. The decision can be revisited if demand changes.
Next steps: No implementation timeline for rescinding the opt-out was specified; staff will continue to monitor demand and may return to the board with a proposal if circumstances change.
Anne Schneider, presenting the matter, said the recommendation came from the Board of Health and community planning staff after reviewing demand and regulatory implications. "There really generally isn't enough demand to warrant the expense and cost of creating an oversight program," Schneider said, adding that the county would monitor demand and could revisit the decision if requests increased.
Schneider told commissioners that establishing a graywater program would require permitting, inspection, compliance and enforcement functions and likely at least a part-time to full additional FTE. "I think that it would be an additional FTE," she said. She also noted the county is already engaged in substantial code work this year — including wildfire resiliency code, an energy-code update, building-code updates and state changes to septic/OWTS regulations — which stretches staff capacity and finances.
Commissioners discussed feasibility, noting graywater systems are uncommon among residents and retrofitting existing properties could be difficult though new construction might accommodate systems more readily. Staff emphasized public-health and groundwater-protection concerns if such systems were not properly overseen.
An unidentified commissioner moved to adopt Resolution 2025-38 to opt out of the graywater control program; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. Schneider and staff were thanked after the vote.
Why it matters: The resolution prohibits county-level use of graywater treatment systems and represents a policy choice to forego establishing an oversight program now, citing limited demand and current staffing and regulatory workloads. The decision can be revisited if demand changes.
Next steps: No implementation timeline for rescinding the opt-out was specified; staff will continue to monitor demand and may return to the board with a proposal if circumstances change.
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