As the Upper Thompson Sanitation District prepares to begin construction on a new $80 million water reclamation facility, the organization will hold an open house Wednesday, August 7 between 4 and 7 p.m.
According to Suzanne Jurgens, the Assistant District Manager of the UTSD, the annual event is an opportunity for the public to learn about the collection system, see the equipment used to perform maintenance on that infrastructure, and learn about plans for the new Water Reclamation Facility and Lift Station Improvements Project that will incorporate state-of-the art treatment technologies needed for both demand and regulatory compliance.
The current water reclamation facility (WRF) was built in 1976 at a cost of $5.5 million to treat a flow of 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD), and a peak hydraulic flow of 3.75 MGD. In the fall of 2000, a new secondary clarifier was constructed, adding operational flexibility and increased plant capacity to 2.0 MGD.
The current plant has not been significantly updated in over 50 years and is nearing the end of its useful life.
The UTSD serves 4,300 households and maintains 96 miles of sewer main and several thousand manholes. Some of the pipes are clay and need to be replaced after decades of ground movement, root intrusion, cracks, and groundwater infiltration.
Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the WRF removes fats, oils, and grease and other inorganic debris — including rags, sand, rocks, fats, oils and grease — from wastewater before the water is tested and then discharged into the Big Thompson River. The entire operation blends the skills of a team of 17 engineers, chemists, administrators, and maintenance workers.
At its July board meeting, the directors of the UTSD board voted unanimously to approve a motion for a succession plan to appoint Jurgens to the role of District Manager when Chris Bieker retires from his position with the organization in January 2025.
The new WRF will be located on a 9-acre site on Mall Road near the current facility and will include a headworks building that will remove inorganic debris from wastewater, and also lift stations that will pump wastewater from within the District’s boundary to the treatment facility.
Construction is planned to begin this fall and funding is expected to be financed using UTSD capital reserves, customer service fees, and long-term, low-interest loans from the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority’s State Revolving Fund, the EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and/or the United States Department of Agriculture. The UTSD is also actively pursuing state and federal grant opportunities for design and construction
At a public meeting August 20, the UTSD board will discuss rate structure for metered customers and consider the District’s metered and non-metered service rates, the system development fee, and other rates and fees.
The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the UTSD offices, 2196 Mall Road in Estes Park.
Members of the community can speak at the meeting to provide input, comments, or objections to the board.
At the December 2023 meeting, the UTSD board voted to increase customer wastewater treatment rates by 8.5% for 2024. Additional rate increases are expected to be approved by the Board in order to fund the new facility.
For detailed information about the UTSD’s rates and fees, please contact Chris Bieker at the District administration office, or via email at chris@utsd.org, or by telephone at 970-586-4544.
Individuals who wish to address the board regarding this matter may do so in-person, by phone, via Zoom platform by contacting Gina Moore, at gina@utsd.org by 2:00 p.m. on August 20 to request a meeting ID or telephone number for the meeting.