Denver Water Recycling Plant
Project Overview
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Existing Infrastructure
- The existing plant capacity is 30 million gallons/day (mgd), it's expandable to 45 mgd.
- The distribution system includes over 50 miles of pipe with two major pump stations and dedicated storage facilities.
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Future Infrastructure
- At build-out the project will supply about 19,000 acre feet per year to irrigation and industrial customers.
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Other Information
- Total project cost: $154 million (Phase I — plant and delivery system — cost more than $111 million).
- The system began operation in spring of 2004.
Metro Wastewater Treatment ProcessThe source water for the recycling plant comes from Metro Wastewater's treatment plant. The schematic below shows how wastewater is treated before release. Denver Water gets its share of the water after the water has been fully clarified. |
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1, 2: Wastewater from the sewer system enters the plant, where it is filtered through bar screens and grit basins, which remove large objects. 3: During the first clarification process, solid waste settles out to the bottom. 4: Water is exposed to millions of aerobic microorganisms that digest the remaining organic waste. 5: Water is fully clarified; the microorganisms clump together and settle to the bottom. Part of the treated water is pumped to Denver Water’s recycling plant. 6: The rest of the water is chlorinated and dechlorinated to remove residual disinfection. 7: Finally, the cleansed wastewater pours into the South Platte River. |
Denver Water Treatment ProcessThe process that Denver Water uses to create recycled water is very similar to the process for creating drinkable water. The primary differences are the source of the water and a "pre-processing" treatment (Biological Filter Aeration) that wastewater goes through to remove ammonia concentrations not present in our mountain water. The schematic shows the four main steps in preparing water for use after the special aeration. Recycled water contains somewhat higher salt and mineral concentrations as well as other introduced elements that make it not safe to drink but acceptable for non-potable use. |
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1: Source water enters the plant and is rapidly mixed with sticky coagulants that can "capture" floating sediment. 2: The water is "flocculated" (stirred with large, slow-moving paddle wheels), which creates turbulence and increases the contact of sediment and coagulant. This allows snowflake-like particles to grow even bigger and heavier. Within the sedimentation basin, the clumps of sediment settle out.3: The water then passes through anthracite filter beds, trapping any remaining sediment. 4: Once the water is fully filtered, the water passes into contact basins for disinfection. The water is stored in a reservoir where it is ready for industrial and large irrigation customers. |
How does DW’s Recycling Project compare with other local programs?
Denver Water's recycling project will produce more water than the combined output of the facilities listed below.
Reuse Facilities in Colorado
| Facility | Capacity (MGD) | Anticipated MGD |
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| City of Aurora Sand Creek Reuse | 5 | 5 |
| Centennial Water and Sanitation | 3 | 1 |
| City of Westminster | 6 | 6 |
| Plum Creek Wastewater Authority | 3.55 | 1.2 |
| City of Louisville | 0.145 | 0.145 |
| Upper Monument Creek | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Colorado Springs - LVSWWTF | 6 | 6 |
| Fairways Metro District | 0.107 | 0.103 |
| Town of Superior | 2.2 | 1.2 |
| Totals | 26.502 | 21.148 |
| Denver Water Phase I | 30 (expandable to 45) | |
| Inside the Plant and Pump Station | |
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