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EPA, State of Colorado recognize Recovery Act benefits at Brighton Drinking Water facility

Release Date: 02/17/2010
Contact Information: Rich Mylott, 303-312-6654

On one-year anniversary of President Obama’s signing in Denver, Recovery Act delivering $62 M for critical water infrastructure, jobs in Colorado

Contacts:
Richard Mylott, USEPA, 303-312-6654
Mark Salley, CDPHE, 303-692-2013
Jodie Carroll, City of Brighton, 303-655-2061

(Denver, Colo. – February 17, 2010) At a ceremony today at the City of Brighton’s Greensand Drinking Water Facility, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Colorado recognized 34 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) projects that are improving water infrastructure and supporting jobs across the state. During the event, the City of Brighton broke ground on the installation of a state-of-the-art ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system that will provide safe drinking water for 34,000 residents. The system is expected to be operational by May, 2010.

The Recovery Act is providing more than $62 million for 34 wastewater and drinking water projects in Colorado communities through Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Loan funds administered by EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Many of these loans include substantial loan forgiveness provisions that will ease future financial burdens on communities.

"The Recovery Act is not only supporting jobs for Coloradans right now,” said EPA Acting Regional Administrator, Carol Rushin, “it is also helping communities create long-term assets that will provide future generations with clean water in our streams and at the tap."

The State of Colorado has worked diligently to award 100 percent of the Clean Water and Drinking Water Recovery Act loan funds to communities. To date, more than $15 million has been spent by Colorado communities on these water infrastructure projects, many of which will be completed during the upcoming spring and summer construction season. The net impact of these projects will contribute to the creation and retention of an estimated 500 to 1,000 jobs. These construction projects are also providing economic benefits associated with increased demand for domestic raw materials, goods and services, and engineering and treatment technologies.

Clean water is a basic requirement for human health and economic growth, and Colorado’s water utilities face a number of challenges associated with upgrading systems that are, in some cases, decades old. The Recovery Act is making a significant impact by addressing high-priority needs in communities. A full list of projects is provided below.

"The staff at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was extremely diligent about identifying priority water projects, reviewing engineering designs, and working closely with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority and the Department of Local Affairs to get these dollars out the door and into the economy," said Martha Rudolph, the department's executive director. "Many of these projects have been on our list of identified projects for years and have significant infrastructure needs for the protection of public health and the environment. Without Recovery Act funding and loan forgiveness, the projects would not have been possible. These projects are moving forward quickly and will benefit tens of thousands of Coloradans."

Many of these projects feature “green” measures that are improving the efficiency of water systems, and saving energy, money and water. Collectively, these measures will save more than 50 million gallons of Colorado’s most precious resource annually.

Sustainable measures taken through drinking water projects will deliver $7.3 million in savings over the next 20 years through increased energy efficiency, reduced operating costs, restored billing revenue, and avoided maintenance costs. In addition, “green” clean water projects totaling $7.9 million will tap more than one million kilowatt hours per year of wind, solar and hydroelectric energy and will help reduce demand on water treatment facilities through water re-use, and water and energy conservation.

The City of Brighton has received $1,044,000 to install a UV disinfection system that will provide 34,000 Brighton residents with long-term, improved protection from bacteria, pathogens and other drinking water contaminants. Ultraviolet disinfection uses light to destroy pathogens, and their ability to reproduce, without treatment chemicals or large, expensive infrastructure. In an arid state such as Colorado, it is essential that water systems can fully utilize sources with variable water quality to provide safe and affordable drinking water to the public.

“We look forward to the Greensand plant beginning operations this spring with the improved water treatment system in place,” said Brighton Mayor Dick McLean. “Looking back about 20 years ago we were compelled to recommend other drinking sources for pregnant women and children under the age of one because of our water quality. Today, we have excellent and safe water in our distribution system. The funding and jobs stimulus provided by the Recovery Act are leveraging upgrades which will even further reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms and other contaminants to our residents.”

EPA has provided nearly $100 million to Colorado under the Recovery Act, which was signed by President Obama in Denver on February 17, 2009. These resources are funding projects to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, advance cleanup at contaminated sites and leaking underground storage tanks, and retrofit diesel engines with clean diesel technologies across the state.

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/region8/eparecovery/

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DRINKING WATER PROJECTS
Total: $32,290,880

Hi-Land Acres WSD, Adams County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,200,000
The project consists of distribution/transmission line replacement.

Town of Hot Sulphur Springs, Grand County
Loan Amount: $1,300,000
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of water treatment plant upgrades, construction of a new clear well, new intake and associated piping and storage improvements.

Colorado City Metro District, Pueblo County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,780,000
The project consists of the installation of packaged membrane filtration equipment.

City of Brighton, Adams County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,044,000
The project consists of installation of UV disinfection and greensand filtration replacement.

Town of Kit Carson, Cheyenne County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $392,000
The project consists of various modifications to the water system including installation of a new reverse osmosis treatment plant and various transmission and distribution upgrades.

Town of Norwood, San Miguel County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $540,150
The projects consist of a storage tank, pressure reduction valve #1 upgrades, and chloramination treatment.

City of Rocky Ford, Otero County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $945,337
The project consists of installing a transmission line to the Hancock Water Company system to provide water to blend.

Town of Siebert, Kit Carson County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,719,500
The project consists of improvements and modifications to the existing wells, and upgrades to the Town's treatment

Town of Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,732,517
The project consists of distribution/transmission line replacement and water meter replacement.

Town of Kremmling, Grand County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of replacement of approximately 10,300 feet of leaking water distribution lines.

Arabian Acres Metro District, Teller County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $287,440
The project consists of increasing water accountability through shallow service line replacement, shallow main replacement and tank level monitoring/alarm projects, and well-drill completion due to surface water intrusion.

Town of Blanca, Costillia County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $50,000
The project consists of implementing a new meter reading system and the installation of water meters.

Town of Fraser, Grand County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $652,255
The project consists of replacement of raw water transmission line, relocating 4 existing underground meter vaults, implementation of emergency power, controls and instrumentation.

Town of Georgetown, Clear Creek County
Loan Amount: $1,340,000
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of upgrading the existing treatment facility, constructing a new 400,000 gallon potable storage tank, rehabilitation or replacement of an existing 1.5 million gallons storage tank, and installation of a hydroelectric facility.

City of Manitou Springs, El Paso County
Loan Amount: $3,020,000
Principal Forgiveness: $832,801
The project consists of distribution/transmission line replacement in various sections of the City.

City of La Junta, Otero County
Loan Amount: $1,830,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of new water tank to replace an existing, reserve pumps and appurtenances.

City of Florence, Fremont County
Loan Amount: $2,000,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of drilling, testing and construction of two additional wells, including installation of transmission lines and controls.

Divide MPC, Teller County
Loan Amount: $145,930
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of drilling, testing and completion of two additional wells, including installation of transmission lines and controls.

Town of Ridgway, Ouray County
Loan Amount:$450,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of upgrades and replacement of failing service lines.

Gateway Metropolitan District, Pitkin County
Loan Amount:$576,575
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of the replacement of two existing steel water storage tanks system looping with additional valves and replacement of problematic water distribution lines.

Town of Ophir, San Miguel County
Loan Amount: $500,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of a new water treatment plant, various water system upgrades, a new infiltration gallery, and construction of a new water tank.

City of Lamar, Prowers County
Loan Amount: $3,952,375
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of the relocation of the existing chlorine building, storage tank improvements, modification to the valve house and installation of a new 24-inch transmission main.

WASTEWATER PROJECTS
Total: $30,093,792

Gunnison County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $474,019
The project consists of extending the North Gunnison central sewer collection system into an area currently served by a deficient collection and treatment system.

Fremont County W&S Dist/North Canon
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of eliminating 176 failing ISDS's by constructing a gravity sanitary sewer system to connect to the regional wastewater treatment system.

Town of Red Cliff, Eagle County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant.

Town of Rye, Pueblo County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,968,000
The project consists of a gravity sewer line extension and flow metering station to connect with Colorado City Metro District’s system, decommissioning the Town’s wastewater treatment facility, and repairs to the existing collection system.

City of Manitou Springs, El Paso County
Loan Amount: $83,401
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of collection system rehabilitation in various sections of the City.

Monument Sanitation District, El Paso County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of eliminating 98 individual septic disposal systems in the Wakonda Hills development by expanding centralized collection facilities.

Widefield WSD, El Paso County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $1,728,593
The project consists of collection system rehabilitation in various sections of the District.

Town of Bayfield, La Plata County
Loan Amount: --
Principal Forgiveness: $193,956
The project consists of consolidation of the Gem Village wastewater treatment facility with the Town of Bayfield wastewater treatment facility, including construction of a new lift station, gravity sewer lines and force main.

Town of Georgetown, Clear Creek County
Loan Amount: $3,800,000
Principal Forgiveness: $2,000,000
The project consists of replacing and upgrading existing conventional activated sludge process equipment with an advanced biological nutrient removal process, adding advanced wastewater treatment process for enhanced phosphorous and zinc reduction, and wind and solar electric generation systems.

Pagosa Area WSD, Archuleta County
Loan Amount: $7,036,541
Principal Forgiveness: $1,309,282
The project consists of decommission the existing Highlands Lagoon wastewater treatment facility, construct 7.5 miles of sewer main, a new lift station, and conveyance of wastewater to the District's Vista wastewater treatment facility.

City of Pueblo, Pueblo County
Loan Amount: $1,500,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of constructing a new 200-Kilowatt photovoltaic array to supplement power at the existing water reclamation facility.

Town of Erie, Weld County
Loan Amount: $2,000,000
Principal Forgiveness: --
The project consists of the construction of a discharge structure and non-potable pump station.