Water-Source Systems
Stable groundwater temperatures mean high efficiency, once water rights and discharge permits are confirmed.
What Goes Wrong
Open loop installs fail in predictable ways, usually because compliance and flow rate are checked too late.
A well that looks adequate on paper can fall short of the 1.5 GPM-per-ton minimum under sustained draw, leaving the system undersized.
We verify sustained yield against the calculated BTU load before an installer is engaged or equipment is ordered.
Colorado discharge rules vary by county and water source, discovering a missing permit after excavation starts is an expensive correction.
We identify every applicable water rights and discharge permit before scoping begins, so no compliance gap surfaces mid-project.
An open loop system that is never measured against its design figures can run at reduced output for years without the homeowner knowing.
Post-install commissioning records actual water flow rate and BTU output, confirming the system hits rated capacity before the project closes.
At Denver’s elevation, equipment sized without altitude adjustment loses output on the coldest nights, the nights it matters most.
Every BTU load calculation accounts for Denver’s elevation so the heat exchanger and pump are sized for actual local conditions.
Scope of Work
From water source assessment to discharge line routing, the written estimate covers every component of the system.
Groundwater drawn from an existing or new well, sized to the BTU load with sustained yield confirmed before equipment is specified.
Intake from a pond, stream, or irrigation ditch where water rights allow, with discharge routing planned to meet county requirements.
Water rights verification, discharge permit applications, and county-specific documentation handled before any excavation is scheduled.
Intake pump specification and heat exchanger selection matched to the confirmed flow rate and altitude-adjusted BTU demand.
Planned to meet county discharge rules from day one.
Flow rate and BTU output measured against design figures.
Every permit cost and equipment line item listed upfront.
Why Us
Open loop projects carry more regulatory complexity than closed loop, here is how we keep that complexity from becoming your problem.
Every enquiry starts with a system evaluation covering load, existing equipment, and altitude-adjusted sizing, before any scope is written.
The written estimate lists every line item: equipment, permit costs, installation scope, and timeline, so nothing is discovered at invoice.
We connect customers with vetted independent local partners who hold the licenses Colorado requires for water-source heat pump work.
Water rights and discharge permit requirements are identified before scoping begins, not after excavation has already started.
Post-install commissioning confirms actual BTU output and flow rate match the design figures before the project is signed off.
The Process
01
Tell us about the property and water source, and we arrange an altitude-adjusted load calculation and site assessment with a licensed installer.
02
You receive an itemised estimate covering equipment, permit costs, discharge line routing, and a project timeline before anything is booked.
03
After installation, commissioning measures actual water flow rate and BTU output against design figures to confirm rated capacity is reached.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small open loop installation | $14,000-$20,000 |
| Typical open loop installation | $18,000-$30,000 |
| Larger open loop system | $25,000-$40,000 |
Tell us about the property and we’ll arrange a licensed installer to assess the site and deliver a written scope before anything is booked.