Metro Denver’s wastewater treatment system is spreading sewage biosolids laced with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” at its farm in eastern Arapahoe County and on private farms that buy the material as fertilizer, according to test records obtained by the Colorado Sun. The likely presence of the ubiquitous and dangerous chemicals on Colorado farmland, placed there […]
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
Posted inClimate, Environment, Water
South Platte River gets no new protections after heated Water Quality Control Commission hearing
Public officials, conservation groups and citizen speakers pleaded with the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission Monday to reverse a 2020 decision and strengthen protections for the South Platte River in north Denver and Adams County, but the commissioners declined. Opponents of the commission’s decision last year thought they had one last chance in a “town […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government, Water
Colorado refuses to ease rules for how much pollution gets discharged into rivers and streams
The state Water Quality Control Commission has delayed for at least a decade a controversial proposal that would have allowed further degradation of Colorado waters already challenged by pollution In a scheduled review of the state’s “antidegradation” provision — a key to the federal Clean Water Act — some on the commission had sought to […]
Posted inEnvironment, News
Industries could dump more pollution into Colorado rivers under proposed rule change that goes against recommendations
A year ago, the state’s water quality commissioners overruled not only their staff but other state agencies like Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with a broad and very angry coalition of conservation groups. Now, according to the conservation groups, the commission is about to do the same thing again. Only this time, the river advocates […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, News, Technology
Your poop may soon serve as an early warning system for Colorado coronavirus outbreaks
Toilets from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs will soon become important tools in Colorado’s efforts to establish an early warning system for the novel coronavirus. The state of Colorado has committed half a million dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds for a year-long pilot program to test sewage. The testing will pinpoint COVID-19-carrying genetic fragments […]
Posted inCOVID, Environment, Health, News
Colorado sewage treatment plants are examining your poop for coronavirus clues. Seriously.
For 24 hours starting early every Sunday morning, small pipes suck samples from the river of sewage flowing into the South Platte Water Renewal Partners wastewater treatment plant in Englewood for 24 hours. The tubes deposit the raw sewage into containers inside a box that resembles a mini fridge. Goggled, masked and gloved workers then […]
Posted inEnvironment, Growth
Colorado wastewater managers are grappling with a “wipes crisis” that leaves pipes in crappy shape
KEYSTONE — The congealed blobs of stinking disposable wipes pulled from sewage pump stations across the country, those are called “Cousin Its.” When there are hypodermic needles in the system-jamming clogs, those are called “Porcupines.” “Whoever has to deal with these is typically the lowest guy on the totem pole,” says Dave Barkey as he […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, News, Outdoors
Where does our poop end up? Probably spread on farmland in eastern Colorado
This story starts with a flush, not here in Colorado, but all the way across the country — in New York City sometime in early 1992: The flush that changed history. Picture it — well, OK, don’t exactly picture it. But imagine the network of subterranean sewer pipes through which the flush travels to reach […]