Accessibility

Digital Accessibility Statement

Updated: June 14, 2024

Northern Water is committed to serving all community members and we strive to ensure that our website is accessible to everyone. Our website is in the process of being updated to meet the requirements of Colorado’s statewide web accessibility standards and comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) AA Standards.

Northern Water uses Siteimprove to give an immediate overview of the organization’s website compliance levels. Both automated and manual scanning is utilized.
Automated Scans – On June 14, 2024, Northern Water achieved 100 percent compliance of AA standards through its automated scans.
Manual Scans – In progress
PDF remediation – In progress

Accessibility Plan

Northern Water Accessibility Plan

Accessibility Statement

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (“Northern Water”) will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its facilities, services, programs or activities.

Northern Water will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services and activities. Northern Water will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in Northern Water’s programs, services and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing or vision impairments. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service or activity of Northern Water, should contact Northern Water's ADA Coordinator no later than five (5) business days before the scheduled event. Please contact the ADA Coordinator via email at accessibility @northernwater.org or by calling 800-369-7246.

Neither the ADA nor Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require Northern Water to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Complaint Process

A complaint process has been established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of facilities, services, activities, programs or benefits by Northern Water. Northern Water’s Employee Handbook governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination.

A complaint regarding the provision of facilities, services, activities, programs or benefits by Northern Water should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant and location, date and description of the problem. To make a complaint, please complete the ADA Complaint Form and return it to the ADA Coordinator (submission instructions are on the form). If you prefer to make a verbal complaint, call 800-369-7246 and ask to speak to Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator. If you need assistance filing a complaint, including sign language assistance, documents in Braille or other ways of making information and communication accessible, please contact Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator via email at accessibility@northernwater.org or by calling 800-369-7246.

The complaint must be submitted by the complainant and/or their designee as soon as possible but no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the alleged violation to:

Kristi Ritter, ADA Coordinator
Northern Water, 220 Water Ave., Berthoud, CO 80513
accessibility@northernwater.org

Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the complaint, Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator or their designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the meeting, Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator or their designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille or audio tape. The response will explain the position of Northern Water and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint. If the response by Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator or their designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the response to the Director of Finance and Administration (“Division Director”) or their designee.

Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the Division Director will designate a third party (not a Northern Water employee) to act as appeal officer (the “Appeal Officer”). The Appeal Officer shall attempt to meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolution. The Appeal Officer will be an attorney or someone who is well-versed in disability law, rules and regulations. Within forty-five (45) calendar days after the meeting, the Division Director or their designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint. Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator or their designee and the Division Director or their designee may extend the deadlines noted herein for cause and with notification to the complainant.

All written complaints received by Northern Water’s ADA Coordinator or their designee, appeals to the Division Director or their designee, and responses from these two offices will be retained by the Northern Water for at least three years.

Employment

Northern Water provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. Northern Water complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Northern Water also prohibits any form of workplace harassment in accordance with these laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.