The Littleton/Englewood Waste Water Treatment Plant ("LEWWTP") is the third largest publicly owned treatment works in the state of Colorado. The plant receives sewage from the cities of Littleton and Englewood, as well as from 21 connector districts in the service areas of the cities. The plant is a large, advanced treatment plant required to exceed secondary treatment requirements and remove ammonia from waste water. The design capacity is 50 million gallons per day (mgd) and is presently treating up to 27 mgd. The plant is jointly owned by the two cities and the operating staff are employees of the City of Englewood. More information is available at the LEWWTP web site.
On 19 January 2012, the Plant staff hosted both city councils for a presentation by Steve Gunderson from the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission discussing the background and details of potential nutrient reduction regulations that could be imposed upon various waste water treatment plants around the state, including LEWWTP. In brief, modifications to the plant to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in the discharge stream for the benefit of downstream reservoirs could easily cost tens of millions of dollars. There are many questions surrounding the potential regulations from a cost / benefit perspective given the substantial impact the required investment would have on City and sanitation district rate payers. It's important to note that the regulations in question are preliminary in nature at this time and nothing definitive has been finalized. However, City Council and Staff are acutely aware of the situation and paying close attention to the regulatory approval process in order to make sure Littleon citizens' interests are a priority.
LLWWTP's Responsive Prehearing Statement was filed with the Commission on 20 January as a procedural step to the draft regulations consideration process. It sets forth the legal issues raised by the Division’s proposed nutrient standards and is included below.
On 19 January 2012, the Plant staff hosted both city councils for a presentation by Steve Gunderson from the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission discussing the background and details of potential nutrient reduction regulations that could be imposed upon various waste water treatment plants around the state, including LEWWTP. In brief, modifications to the plant to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous in the discharge stream for the benefit of downstream reservoirs could easily cost tens of millions of dollars. There are many questions surrounding the potential regulations from a cost / benefit perspective given the substantial impact the required investment would have on City and sanitation district rate payers. It's important to note that the regulations in question are preliminary in nature at this time and nothing definitive has been finalized. However, City Council and Staff are acutely aware of the situation and paying close attention to the regulatory approval process in order to make sure Littleon citizens' interests are a priority.
LLWWTP's Responsive Prehearing Statement was filed with the Commission on 20 January as a procedural step to the draft regulations consideration process. It sets forth the legal issues raised by the Division’s proposed nutrient standards and is included below.
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