SPOTLIGHT: DENVER

Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference October 17, 2012

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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.

Conference Learning ObjectivesAt 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

Purpose To promote the national dialogue on resource recovery and green infrastructure

Agenda• Who We Are• What We Do

Reclaim water• How We Do It

Innovations approach

Advance best practices

Communicate and collaborate

“To provide wastewater transmission and treatment services to member

municipalities and special connectors in compliance with federal, state, and county laws in the most efficient and

cost-effective means possible.”

Obligation to reclaim/clean waterObligation to do it cost-effectively

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Who We AreMetro District• 50-year old

single-purpose special district

• 59 Connectors 22 Member

Municipalities• 36-Director

appointed Board• 359 full-time staff• 1.7 million people in

715 square miles

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Metro District service area map with Connectors indicated in color

Robert W. Hite

Treatment Facility

Northern Treatment Plant

What We DoReclaim Water & Return It to the Water Cycle

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South Platte River Classifications• Agriculture• Aquatic life• Drinking

water supply• Recreation

South Platte River Basin

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

How We Do ItMetro District Facilities

Robert W. Hite Treatment FacilityTransmission System

New Northern Treatment Plant METROGRO Farm8

Transmission System• 230 miles• 43 interceptors

4-inch to 90-inch diameter Oldest from 1890

• 4 lift stations and force mains• 3,900 manholes• 97 metering facilities• Sanitary sewer –

Not a combined sewer (no storm water)

Brantner Gulch Lift Station in Thornton

Facilities

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Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility• 130 million

gallons/day• 76 dry tons/day

biosolids• 314-acre site• Activated sludge

process• Secured facility• 24/7/365 operation

Facilities

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1 Bar Screen Building

2 Grit Basins

3 Primary Clarifiers

4 Aeration Basins

5 Secondary Clarifiers

6 Disinfection Facilities

7 Dechlorination Building

8 Effluent Discharge to South Platte River

York StreetYork Street

South Platte RiverSouth Platte River

I-270I-270Sand CreekSand Creek

Burlington DitchBurlington Ditch

N

4 Solids Processing

Hite Facility processes

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

Facilities

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Rendering of Phase 1 (2015) and Buildout (after 2045)

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

Facilities

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Rendering of Phase 1 (2015)

Why Innovate?

Growth

Regulatory

• Cost incentives• Because we have the ability

South Platte River

Modern Family

1970s family

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Approach

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Advance Water Quality ScienceIn 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 2013 Discharge Permit

Nutrients Temperature

• Barr Lake-Milton Reservoir Total Maximum Daily Load Identified non-point phosphorus sources Support appropriate waste load allocation for

District Barr Lake

Approach

Hite Facility outfall

Improve Water Quality and Aquatic Life Habitat

Approach

MOU Amendment 1• Study other

aquatic life/habitat improvements rather than build the two

2004

Memorandum of Understanding with regulators• Site-specific

standards

• Two habitat improvements

1997

Nitrification Alternatives Study• Instream

reaeration structures

1990 2005

Aquatic Life/Habitat Assessment initiated

Additional studies

2006

Assessment presented to regulators• 6 phases over

20 years

MOU Amendment 2

2009

Phase 1 completed

2012

Phase 2 completed

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Constructed backwater

pool

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Biosolids Management History

• Heat Drying/Incineration• Lime Stabilization/Landfill• Dedicated Land Disposal• Composting• Land Application

Regulation Technology Implementation

Approach

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Biosolids Management Program

Class B Land ApplicationLand apply 93% of annual production

METROGRO Farm Private farms

6 days/weekApprox 18 truckloads/day140 mile round-trip average>300 active sites (320 acres in size)Nutrient loading-based

Approach

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Groundwater Protection 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 11-year, Monitoring Program No USGS requirement USGS proposal selected

Approach

Informational board

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• 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 Technology is new in United States

Technology and Innovation Approach

Innovation Approach

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Approach

Prod

uctio

n

Insti

tutio

nal C

apac

ity

Tech

nolo

gy

Demand Side

Supply Side

Diffusers

Aeration basin

Technology Innovation

Picture of Endress-Hauser

Monitor

Process modeling

Instrumentation

Aeration control21

Approach

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• Local – District initiatives• Local – Universities• National (Water Environment

Research Foundation) Knowledge areas Research program management Research project support:

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 Demonstration of Membrane Zero Liquid Discharge

Participation in Research and Innovation

Approach

Aquatic life monitoring

Advance Best Practices – Capital Program• Capital Project

Management Program Standardized best practices

(e.g., cost estimating) Customized project tracking

tools and reports• Alternative delivery

methods • Contractor prequalification• Contractor incentives

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20122013

20142015

20162017

20182019

20202021

202220406080

100120140160180200220

$ millions

$1.26 billion over 10-year planning period

Best Practices

Planned capital expenditures

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 Predictive operations using process models

• Capacity firming Assure treatment capability

24 Microthrix Parvicella

Manhole inspection

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

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Best Practices

Communicate and Collaborate• Local Workgroups

Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association

Colorado Water Quality Forum Workgroups

• National Committees NACWA Money Matters Task Force

Congressional testimony

• District Manager on Boards of Directors: US Water Alliance Vice-Chair – Water Environment Research Foundation Chair – National Biosolids Partnership Steering Committee

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Milton Reservoir algae and stakeholders

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

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Communication

This concludes the educational content of this activity.

Questions

Steve Rogowski Metro Wastewater Reclamation District

srogowski@mwrd.dst.co.us28