Metro Wastewater Reclamation District - Denver Metro Area, CO - Wastewater Treatment Facilities on Waymarking.com

I temporarily worked at this site many years ago in the Records Department. That was where I developed a great appreciation for all of the convenience and safety a wastewater treatment plant provides. The plant has grown and security has greatly increased with new guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security. While the group owners may not appreciate this, one cannot enter the site without being inspected by a guard, having to give their driver's license and vehicle license entered into a permanent log of visitors. Since I was also going in to get information about MetroGro (see below), I did complete this process. But Waymarkers may not want to or perhaps should not even enter just to log a waymark. You can shoot photos from the roadway without burdening their facilities security requirements.

You may drive south and park at informal parking areas next to the bike path that follows the Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant. Photos of the plant facilities were taken from the bike path (N39° 48.440, W104° 57.51).

"The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District is the wastewater treatment authority for most of metro Denver. It was formed by the Colorado state legislature in 1961 to provide wastewater transmission and treatment services to member municipalities and special connectors in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

The Metro District serves about 1.5 million people in a 380-square mile service area that includes Denver, Arvada, Aurora, Lakewood, Thornton, Westminster, and more than 45 sanitation and water and sanitation districts.

The Metro District treats about 130 million gallons of wastewater a day and discharges the treated water into the South Platte River where it makes up nearly 90 percent of the River for nine months of the year. In May 2005, the Metro District won its second consecutive Platinum Award. Platinum Awards are given for five consecutive years of 100% compliance with the numerical limits of its discharge permit. For more about this award, click here. In October 2005 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Metro District first place nationally for plant operations and maintenance.

Under the trade name METROGRO®, the Metro District applies most of the biosolids that result from cleaning wastewater to agricultural land in eastern Colorado. In July 2005, the National Biosolids Partnership certified the Metro District's Environmental Management System for Biosolids. The EPA awarded the Metro District first place nationally for its biosolids management accomplishments in 2004.

The remaining biosolids not applied to land are mixed with wood chips and turned into METROGRO® Compost, a product homeowners in the metro Denver area can purchase to enrich their gardens and lawns."

What is the capacity of the facility?: Average of 160 million gallons per day Describe the biological treatment technology used.: "Primary treatment removes pollutants from wastewater through screening, skimming, and settling. Secondary treatment uses microorganisms to remove suspended and dissolved organic matter. The treated water is then disinfected to kill harmful microorganisms (pathogens) before it is discharged into the South Platte River. In 1990, the Metro District began advanced treatment of about half its effluent to remove ammonia before discharging it into the River. By removing ammonia, more dissolved oxygen is available in the River, making it able to better support aquatic life. The Metro District removes and concentrates solids from the primary and secondary treatment processes and sends this mixture to anaerobic digesters where it is stabilized. The stabilized solids, now called biosolids, can then be used as soil amendments to enrich agricultural lands." How are biosolids (sludge) managed?: Most biosolids are used in agriculter in eastern Colorado. The rest is composted and sold as MetroGRO. What technology is used for disinfection prior to dicharge of treated water?: Cholrination and UV radiation Who is the owner/operator fo the facility?: Regional District of 55 local governments How is the facility governed?: Board of Directors (66 members - one for each 25,000 population) What is the website of the WWTP?: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Please post at least 2 original photographs of the site. We would much rather see photos of the plant itself as opposed to the front office, but we also understand that security and site layout may limit your opportunities.

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