Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan

• View the final version of the  Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan 

Summary:

The Facilities Plan, prepared in 1990, and the Utility Plan, revised in 2002, were the last planning documents addressing the WWTP needs.  This master plan has been prepared to bring the wastewater utility planning documents into the new city master plan framework.  This plan is intended to inform the Wastewater Utility on issues related to wastewater treatment.  The draft master plan is based upon existing documents including the Utility Plan submitted to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the Community Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP) for the WWTP Liquid Stream Improvements project, the CEAP for the Solids Handling Improvements project (both now in various phases of construction), and updated population projects.

Fiscal Impacts:

Budgetary: The plan itself has no budgetary impact. Funding for the first phase of the construction cited in the plan is in place.  Additional funding will be required to carryout the second phase of the construction.  The Capital Improvements Project (CIP) budget includes $18,500,000 of improvements in 2010.  Future funding of additional construction will probably require additional user rate increases.

Other Impacts:

The potential future projects identified in the plan generally improve water quality in Boulder Creek, protect downstream water users or reduce local impacts from the treatment facility.  The potential future improvements will keep the plant in compliance with its discharge permit and local requirements.

Economic: The future projects could potentially result in unbalanced social impacts because lower income customers would be dis-proportionally impacted by any rate increase. 

Community: The impacts depend upon the improvements selected.  For example, residents in close proximity to the facility could have fewer odors and noise if noise and odor treatment components are required in future work.

Analysis:

In most communities WWTP improvements are driven by growth and regulatory requirements. However, Boulder's growth limitations have minimized the impact of growth as a ‘driver' of plant improvements.  Boulder's WWTP improvements are typically driven by regulatory requirements included in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued discharge permit.  The discharge permit focuses on reducing impacts of the wastewater discharge to the aquatic habitat and protecting downstream water uses.   

This master plan addresses the improvements to the existing facility required to meet the 2003 discharge permit limits. The plan also attempts to conservatively estimate improvements required to meet more stringent discharge permit limits that will likely be associated with the 2009 permit renewal. The plan presents some future decisions that will be vital to the WWTP facility's continued success in meeting regulatory requirements and the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Goals.  The master plan demonstrates the approach that has been used to keep the WWTP in compliance with regulatory requirements and meet community objectives.

All the potential second phase and future improvements presented here will require a CEAP and, probably, a Boulder County 1041 ‘Matters of State Interest' review and approval. 

Last Updated on Monday, 19 November 2007 02:26