Is Durango West 2 an HOA?+
No. It is a metropolitan district, a special district and political subdivision of Colorado. It charges monthly fees for services. It does not collect HOA dues, enforce covenants, referee neighbor disputes, manage mailbox keys, take dog complaints, or haul trash. Some condo buildings inside the subdivision have their own associations and a separate fee. That is not the district.
What does the monthly fee cover?+
Water, sewer collection, wastewater treatment, and maintenance of roads and open space, including snow removal. The 2026 rate page includes the first 6,000 gallons of water. Trash and recycling are not included. The last fee amount printed in a district newsletter this guide could find is $170 a month, from October 2023, and recent listings still quote $170. Your bill is the number that counts.
Where does the water come from?+
Four wells in Sheep Springs Gulch, plus surface water bought from Lake Durango Water Authority when the wells aren’t enough. In dry years the district has leaned mostly on LDWA. LDWA’s supply is La Plata River rights and storage in Lake Nighthorse, shared with Durango West 1, Trappers Crossing, Lake Durango, Wildcat Canyon, and others. It is not unlimited, and it has to be pumped up to the DW2 tank.
Why does the water taste different some months?+
Well water is hard — the district cites about 500 mg/L total dissolved solids — and can smell like sulfur. It is chlorinated and aerated. Lake water is softer but can taste fishy or algal when the lake turns over in spring or fall. The district says both are disinfected, tested, and safe. It will not soften everyone’s water; reverse osmosis at the plant can make water more corrosive. A home softener or carbon filter is a private choice.
Does the district haul trash?+
No. Hire a private hauler. At least one serves the area with recycling. Cardboard, paper, and plastic can also go to the Durango Recycling Center at the Tech Center for a small fee. Glass is accepted there free, per the district FAQ.
Can I park on the street?+
No. The district prohibits parking on the street. A car or trailer there blocks the plow and is treated as a safety problem on roads with no sidewalks.
What can’t go down the drain?+
Fats, oils, and grease. They clog service lines and turn into grease balls the district has to haul out of the wastewater plant. The plant is a lagoon system co-owned with Durango West 1, on the south side of Highway 160. Toilets get human waste and toilet paper only — no wipes, even the ones labeled flushable.
Who do I call?+
District business, billing, and water-quality questions go to the district manager, Jane Looney, at 970-259-3946 or dw2@dgowest2.com. Mail and check payments: Durango West 2, P.O. Box 3191, Durango, CO 81302, or the drop box under the Mail Building window. This website is not the district office and cannot see your account.