Colorado Division of Water Resources

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last updated: May 2023

The Division of Water Resources (DWR), also known as the Office of the State Engineer, administers water rights, issues water well permits, represents Colorado in interstate water compact proceedings, monitors streamflow and water use, approves construction and repair of dams and performs dam safety inspections, issues licenses for well drillers and assures the safe and proper construction of water wells, and maintains numerous databases of Colorado water information.  

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Colorado Division of Water Resources is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.

Listed in:

• State Funding / Technical Resources
• Government Agencies
• Water Rights and Appropriations

Contact Colorado Division of Water Resources

1313 Sherman St
Suite 821
Denver, Colorado  80203
Phone: (303) 866-3581
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Service Area

Statewide service provider in:

• Colorado

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Graywater Information Sheet

As a result of 2013 legislation, we developed Regulation 86: Graywater Control Regulation, which was adopted by the Water Quality Control Commission on November 9, 2015.  A copy of regulation is available on the commission page. A graywater information sheet is also available.

Graywater is a portion of the water used in a residential, commercial or industrial building that may be collected after the first use and put to a second beneficial use.  Regulation 86 outlines requirements, prohibitions, and standards for graywater use for nondrinking purposes. 

Guide to Well Permits, Water Rights, and Water Administration

By law, every new well in the state that diverts ground water must have a well permit. In order to obtain a permit, a
person must file an application for approval of a permit with the State Engineer.  This guide provides a discussion that applies to the areas of the state outside the designated ground water basins. Please refer to the section of this guide titled, “How Do I Obtain a Water Well Permit Within a Designated Basin?”, for a discussion on obtaining well permits within the designated ground water basins, and for information as to where the designated basins are located.

How Well Do You Know Your Water Well? Groundwater and Water Wells in Colorado

This informative booklet has been prepared as a reference guide for private water well owners throughout the state. In it you will find basic information concerning the groundwater that is supplied to you from your private water well.

Pathfinder Project

The Pathfinder Project is a pilot program that through its involvement with an array of stakeholders works to define a process to provide for water management on National Forest lands in Colorado.

Pathfinder Project on the Colorado “GMUG” National Forests

Pathfinders developed 27 strategies to achieve instream flows without imposing federal restrictions on water diversions in 3 Colorado National Forests.