In Colorado, and just about everywhere, it’s important to slather on the sunscreen to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Our community’s wastewater, however, is throwing caution to the wind and soaking in the UV all day long. Don’t worry. In this case, it’s all for the good of the environment and your safety.

Recently, our wastewater employees completed construction on a new installation at the Las Vegas Wastewater Treatment Plant that uses UV light to help disinfect wastewater. The project is the largest of its type in Colorado and is considered one of the biggest west of the Mississippi.

The UV light is applied at the end of the wastewater treatment process, just prior to being discharged in Fountain Creek. The intense light “zaps” bacteria from the wastewater.

The highly-efficient, cost-effective system boasts a number of benefits.

• The UV system helps avoid greater costs that are associated with the maintenance and repairs of outdated technology.
• The UV process enhances the quality of the wastewater effluent, or discharge. Although we already meet environmental standards, tighter regulations are expected in the future. This technology will help meet those requirements.
• By using the new system, we eliminate the use of gaseous chlorine at the treatment plant. This reduces safety risks for employees and the community, as well as decreases security threats.

To maximize cost savings, construction took place on the existing treatment plant location without needing additional land acquisition.