The document summarizes an urban water sustainability conference. It discusses the following key points in 3 sentences:
The conference aims to promote resource recovery and green infrastructure solutions through establishing learning objectives around benefits, barriers, funding options, and practical implementation actions. The agenda covers an overview of the Metro Wastewater District including their facilities, approaches to innovation, regulatory engagement, biosolids management, research participation, best practices, and communication efforts. The Metro District manages wastewater treatment for over a million people through various facilities, applies biosolids beneficially, engages in ongoing innovation and research, and communicates with stakeholders.
2. The U.S. Water Alliance has met the standards
and requirements of the Registered Continuing
Education Program. Credit earned on
completion of this program will be reported to
RCEP at RCEP.net. A certificate of completion
will be issued to each participant. As such, it
does not include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or endorsement
by RCEP.
2
3. Purpose
To promote the national dialogue on resource recovery and
green infrastructure
Conference Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation you will be able to:
• Define the range of benefits of green infrastructure practices
• Identify barriers and costs to implementation of these practices
• Evaluate options and opportunities for funding, financing, and valuing green
infrastructure
• Develop practical actions that government, communities, and others can
implement to promote adoption of green infrastructure solutions
4. Agenda
• Who We Are “To provide wastewater transmission
• What We Do and treatment services to member
municipalities and special connectors
Reclaim water in compliance with federal, state, and
• How We Do It county laws in the most efficient and
cost-effective means possible.”
Innovations
approach
Advance best
practices
Communicate Obligation to reclaim/clean water
Obligation to do it cost-effectively
and collaborate
4
5. Who We Are
Metro District
• 50-year old Northern Treatment
Plant
single-purpose
special district
• 59 Connectors Robert
W. Hite
Treatment
22 Member Facility
Municipalities
• 36-Director
appointed Board
• 359 full-time staff
• 1.7 million people in
Metro District service area map
715 square miles with Connectors indicated in color
5
6. What We Do
Reclaim Water & Return It to the Water Cycle
South Platte River
Classifications
• Agriculture
• Aquatic life
• Drinking
water supply
• Recreation
6 South Platte River Basin
7. Reclaimed Means Very Clean –
Effluent-Dominated Waters
• Hite Facility effluent = 85% of South Platte River flow
for 9 months of the year
• “Headwaters” for downstream water supplies
(recycled water; source water)
7 Hite Facility outfall
8. How We Do It
Metro District Facilities
Transmission System Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility
8 New Northern Treatment Plant METROGRO Farm
9. Facilities
Transmission System
• 230 miles
• 43 interceptors
4-inch to 90-inch diameter
Oldest from 1890
• 4 lift stations and force mains
• 3,900 manholes Brantner Gulch Lift Station in Thornton
• 97 metering facilities
• Sanitary sewer –
Not a combined sewer
(no storm water)
9
10. Facilities
Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility
• 130 million 8 Effluent Discharge to South Platte River
6 Disinfection Facilities
gallons/day 7 Dechlorination Building
• 76 dry tons/day N
biosolids
• 314-acre site
• Activated sludge
process
• Secured facility
• 24/7/365 operation South Platte River
York Street
Hite Facility processes
3 Primary Clarifiers 1 Bar Screen Building
4 Aeration Basins 2 Grit Basins
5 Secondary Clarifiers 4 Solids Processing
10
11. Facilities
METROGRO Farm
• Acquired 1993–1995
• 52,000 acres
• 70 miles east of Denver
• 100% of Class B biosolids
beneficially reused
Registered fertilizer and soil
amendment – METROGRO®
+195 private farms in 5 counties
+Private composter (~7%)
• In-House Resources
~18 truckloads/day/6 days/week
140-mile round trip average
Vehicle maintenance
11 METROGRO Farm
12. Facilities
New Northern Treatment Plant
• North of Denver,
on South Platte River
• 90-acre site
• Phase 1 construction
2012–2015
300,000 residents served in
5 cities
24 million gallons/day
• 7 miles of pipe
• $466 million capital cost
estimate
Rendering of Phase 1 (2015)
12 and Buildout (after 2045)
13. Approach
Why Innovate?
1970s family
Regulatory
Modern Family
• Cost incentives South Platte River
13
• Because we have the ability
14. Advance Water Quality Science Approach
In Policymaking
• South Platte Water Quality Model
Since 1981 – Segment 15
Accepted basis for discharge permit limitations
1992, 2003, 2008 Hite Facility Discharge
Permits
1997 dissolved oxygen standard
2012 Nutrient Rulemaking Hite Facility outfall
2013 Discharge Permit
Nutrients
Temperature
• Barr Lake-Milton Reservoir
Total Maximum Daily Load
Identified non-point phosphorus sources
Support appropriate waste load allocation for
14 District Barr Lake
15. Improve Water Quality and Approach
Aquatic Life Habitat
Constructed
backwater
pool
Additional
studies
MOU Assessment
Memorandum of
Amendment 1 presented to
Nitrification Understanding
• Study other regulators
Alternatives with regulators aquatic
Study • Site-specific Aquatic • 6 phases over
life/habitat
20 years
• Instream standards improvements Life/Habitat
reaeration • Two habitat rather than Assessment MOU Phase 1 Phase 2
structures improvements build the two initiated Amendment 2 completed completed
1990 1997 2004 2005 2006 2009 2012
15
16. Approach
Biosolids Management History
• Heat Drying/Incineration
• Lime Stabilization/Landfill
• Dedicated Land Disposal
• Composting
• Land Application
Regulation
Technology
Implementation
16
17. Approach
Biosolids Management Program
Class B Land Application
Land apply 93% of annual
production
METROGRO Farm
Private farms
6 days/week
Approx 18 truckloads/day
140 mile round-trip average
>300 active sites
(320 acres in size)
Nutrient loading-based
17
18. Groundwater Protection Approach
USGS Monitoring Program
• June 1997 Elbert County
biosolids ban
• 1998 Intergovernmental
Agreement (IGA)
6-year Independent Monitoring
Program with U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS)
• 2004 IGA
7-year Independent Monitoring
Program with USGS
• 2012 IGA Informational board
11-year, Monitoring Program
No USGS requirement
USGS proposal selected
18
19. Approach
Technology and Innovation
• Bio-P pilot
Uses existing tanks/facilities
Water Environment Research
Foundation involvement
Downstream monitoring
indicates success
• Deammonification evaluation
Taking advantage of two
organisms that work well together
Fits well with existing
infrastructure and future direction
Significant efficiency opportunity
19 Technology is new in United States
20. Approach
Innovation Approach
Demand Side
Institutional Capacity
Technology
Production
Aeration
basin
Supply Side
20 Diffusers
21. Approach
Technology Innovation
Picture of
Endress-
Hauser
Monitor
Instrumentation
Process modeling
Aeration control
21
22. Participation in Research and Approach
Innovation
• Local – District initiatives
• Local – Universities
• National (Water Environment
Research Foundation)
Knowledge areas
Research program management
Research project support: Aquatic life monitoring
Waterborne Pathogens and Human Health Program
Trace Organic Compound Indicator Removal During Conventional
Wastewater Treatment
Linking Receiving Water Impacts to Sources and to Water Quality
Management Decisions: Using Nutrients as an Initial Case Study
Nutrient Recovery in the Global Water Industry
Energy Balance and Reduction Opportunities, Case Studies of Energy-
Neutral Wastewater Facilities and Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Research
Planning Support
22
Demonstration of Membrane Zero Liquid Discharge
24. Best Practices
Cost-Effective Operations
• Preventive maintenance
• Performance-based operations
Performance metrics tracking on chemicals
Units in service based on treatment
capacity needs
Aeration energy reduction strategies
Manhole inspection
Predictive operations using process models
• Capacity firming
Assure treatment capability
24 Microthrix Parvicella
25. Best Practices
Sustainable Practices
• Beneficial reuse of biosolids
• Reuse of methane gas for heat and electricity on
Hite Facility
• Energy Optimization
Program
• Green fleet,
other practices
• Sustainability Return
on Investment tool
25
26. Communication
Communicate and Collaborate
• Local Workgroups
Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir
Watershed Association
Colorado Water Quality Forum
Workgroups
• National Committees
NACWA Money Matters Task Force
Milton Reservoir algae
Congressional testimony and stakeholders
• District Manager on Boards of Directors:
US Water Alliance
Vice-Chair – Water Environment Research Foundation
Chair – National Biosolids Partnership Steering Committee
26
27. Communication
Outreach
• Website, education, tours, news media
• Northern Treatment Plant Visitor’s Center
• Citizens’ Participation Group/Farm communities
• University programs
Maymester at
University of Colorado
• Presentations
27
28. This concludes the educational content of this activity.
Questions
Steve Rogowski
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
28 srogowski@mwrd.dst.co.us