Wastewater

The Drake Water Reclamation Facility has the capacity to treat 23 million gallons of wastewater per day and manages the biosolids for both the Drake and Mulberry water reclamation facilities. The Drake facility uses programmable logic controllers to manage and automate treatment processes. As a resource recovery facility, we reuse energy generated from treatment processes and recover nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen).Treated water is discharged to Fossil Creek Ditch, which connects with Fossil Creek Reservoir and eventually the Cache la Poudre River.

The Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility has the capacity to treat six million gallons of wastewater per day. It is a highly-automated facility with programmable logic controllers for automation and process management. The facility has an odor control system due to its proximity to the city that includes a carbon filter with carbon polishing. Treated water is discharged to the Cache la Poudre River.

Biosolids are a nutrient-rich organic material created from the biological and physical treatment of wastewater. They are the removed solids from the wastewater treatment process, which meet strict state and federal standards for organics, metals and pathogen removal. Biosolids can be used to improve soil structure and water retention and also are used as a slow-release fertilizer.

The City produces approximately 2,355 metric dry tons of biosolids per year (more than 579 semi-truck loads). Ten to 12 semi-trailer loads of biosolids are trucked from the Drake Water Reclamation Facility to Meadow Springs Ranch each week. One hundred percent of Fort Collins Utilities biosolids are applied on the ranch. 

Biosolids transportation is accomplished using three City owned semis and trailers. The trailers are equipped with tarps for transportation. The biosolids are unloaded at a staging area within a permitted site and directly land applied by using a spreader machine called an Oxbo. This machine is equipped with adjustable chain belt, augers, a slide gate and rear spinners for a more accurate agronomic rate. The Oxbo is also equipped with cameras, auto steer and GPS to upload plot boundaries for precise application. 

Biosolids are nutrient rich that in the short-term acts as vegetation fertilizer and long-term is a soil amendment. The City monitors the nutrient and metals in the biosolids, soil and groundwater in accordance the State and Federal regulations. The City uses the latest GPS equipment and web-based software to track and store the biosolids applications data. 

Innovation at Meadow Springs Ranch

Reminiscent of the property's past life as a cattle ranch, the City leases pastures through a competitive process to grazing associations. Depending on conditions and operational needs, cattle graze in designated pastures, Meadow Springs is a working cattle ranch. Ranches often conjure up thoughts of cowboys on horseback, windmills and vast spans of rangeland, but City staff has been very proactive in improving, upgrading and modernizing decades-old water systems, reusing street sweeper brushes and using new forms of transportation.

As windmills fall into disrepair, they are replaced with solar panels to operate the pump to deliver water from the well to the livestock watering tanks. Likewise, as a street sweeper brush can no longer be used for street sweeping, ranch staff can install them upright for cattle to use as scratching posts for relief of biting flies. Ranch staff now use a Polaris Ranger for some daily activities instead of a full-size truck to save on fuel and have less impact to rangeland terrain — in essence, bringing the old west into the 21st century.

To comply with environmental standards developed by EPA and the State of Colorado, Utilities developed a program to reduce the amount of mercury entering the wastewater treatment facilities. The Mercury Control Program was approved by City Council and went into effect in July 2005. Since the program began, the amount of mercury entering the wastewater treatment plant has decreased over 50%.

Utilities across the country are seeing an increase in sewer blockages, both on the customer side and in the main lines. A blocked sewer can lead to property damage and extra expenses for repairs. Your actions can help prevent problems!