This consists of a series of walls or baffles which direct the flow either from side to side of the tank or under and over consecutive baffles. At the inlet is a section of the tank known as the bio-selector. While one tank is in settle/decant mode the other is aerating and filling. The tanks have a “flow through” system, with raw wastewater (influent) coming in at one end and treated water (effluent) flowing out the other. The installation consists of at least two identically equipped tanks with a common inlet, which can be switched between them. While there are several configurations of SBRs the basic process is similar. Oxygen is bubbled through the waste water to reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to make suitable for discharge into sewers or for use on land. SBR reactors treat waste water such as sewage or output from anaerobic digesters or mechanical biological treatment facilities in batches. In order to have a vault for wastewater, the lots must be served by a road that meets county standards so that a pumper truck can get to the vault, Romero said, noting that at least one neighborhood, called Morningside, has only six vault permits remaining.Sequencing batch reactors (SBR) or sequential batch reactors are industrial processing tanks for the treatment of wastewater.
Housing lots that are less than 5 acres and located outside the central water and sewer coverage must install a water well and sewage vault, Romero explained. Within the remaining 80% of lots, home projects located on 5 acres or more in size can install onsite wastewater treatment systems. Romero said the original developer of Stagecoach installed water and sewer infrastructure to only about 20% of the originally platted 2,000 lots in the development that encompasses 11,500 acres. The engineer noted the sequencing batch reactor design was selected as the preferred processing method because of its lower cost, ability to meet anticipated discharge permit limits, simplicity to operate, no use of consumable filters to replace and low-energy requirements needed to qualify for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Project Reserve program. The proposed project involves installing a sequencing batch reactor treatment facility and discontinuing use of the existing activated sludge wastewater treatment facility. The benefits of an updated system include reducing the energy costs, increasing the flexibility of the system and increasing the removal rates of biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, phosphorous, ammonia and other constituents.” “The equipment is antiquated, and it can be a challenge to find replacement parts. “A modern system that is more efficient and reliable will help the district to operate safety into the future,” Sommers said. The treated outflow of the plant is released into Stagecoach Reservoir, and the new plant would improve the quality of that discharged effluent, especially with reduced levels of ammonia, Romero said.Įngineer Adam Sommers with AquaWorks in Denver noted in June 2020 that the current facility is in compliance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulations, but “the existing equipment has reached the end of its design life.” The original plant was built in 1972 by the Woodmoor Corp., the developers of Stagecoach, who later went bankrupt in the early 1970s. The new plant will be located next to the current facility on Uncompahgre Road south of Stagecoach Reservoir. 1 by about $34 per month for combined water and sewer services. In order to receive funding for the project, the USDA required an adjustment to customer rates, which increased on Jan. That will be paid for by a commitment from the USDA Rural Development program through a $1.7 million grant and $6.3 million in loans.
The preliminary project cost estimate is $8 million.
The district will issue a request for construction proposals in late January, and construction should start in April or May, continuing to late 2023.
Morrison Creek Water and Sanitation District General Manager Geovanny Romero said the district has spent $365,000, largely via grants, for design and engineering for a new wastewater treatment plant and currently is awaiting state and USDA approvals to break ground this spring. The golden anniversary of the wastewater treatment plant serving the Stagecoach area will bring a complete replacement of the aging plant that the manager said no longer meets standards of safety for employees or upcoming increases in environmental regulations. The district plans to replace the 50-year-old treatment plant this year as it does not meet the latest safety and environmental standards. Morrison Creek Water and Sanitation District operators Jeff Ericksen, left, and Bill Queen survey the wastewater treatment plant serving the Stagecoach area.