National honors for Pueblo addressing waterway pollution

The city of Pueblo has been recognized nationally for its work in addressing algal pollution in waterways, and the work has saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

The city received the Water Environment Federation 2020 Project Excellence Award for implementing the first full hydrocyclone/ammonia controlled nutrient removal process in the country and for improvements made to the James Diorio Water Reclamation Facility.

"From the continental divide to the Mississippi, our waterways are connected to each other. What happens in Colorado will impact the Gulf's algae problems and I am happy to announce Pueblo is leading Colorado to reduce algal bloom," Mayor Nick Gradisar said in a statement regarding the improvements made and the city being recognized nationally for its efforts. "In addition, our wastewater team saved taxpayers over $20 million, which shows our team is doing everything it can to be environmental leaders while being great financial stewards."

The city partnered with engineering and construction firm Brown and Caldwell to develop an advanced system of nutrient removal through aeration control and hydrocyclone-base wasting process.

In 2012, the state of Colorado introduced new standards to reduce the algal growth and aquatic life impairments. The first phase of reductions had to be met by April and the next phase of reductions will go into effect in 2027.

"We want to meet the Water Quality Control Division Discharge Permit requirements without adding additional costs for the citizens," Nancy Keller, the wastewater director for the city, said. "We have a system now that protects aquatic life and improves the quality of our down stream communities.

"Our success in this project allows the facility to earn credits with the Water Quality Control Division that will delay implementation of the 2027 standards in our discharge permit, allowing technology improvements to occur, hopefully decreasing that large capital expense also."

The Nutrient Removal Project was anticipated to cost around $20-25 million, and the city along with its partners implemented the system for a total cost of under $2 million, according to the city.

Algae blooms deprives waterways of needed oxygen, which leads to dead zones that occur when a body of water or waterway has increased levels of nutrient pollution which is primarily caused by human involvement. 

The increased nutrients cause an overgrowth of algae, which when it decomposes, reduces the supply of oxygen.

The James Diorio Water Reclamation Facility treats more than 10 million gallons of wastewater per day.

rseverance@chieftain.com