As part of our environmental stewardship, we are committed to improving our system and protecting area streams. Since 2004, we have invested more than $147 million on wastewater collection system maintenance and improvements.
These investments are producing results. Our spills per 100 miles of pipe are among the lowest in the nation, and we are among statewide leaders in wastewater system investments.
Our wastewater collection system uses a variety of methods to minimize wastewater overflows and ensure protection of human health and the environment.
- We clean more than one-third of the system each year.
- We help prevent infiltration and leaks caused by root growth by treating of collection pipelines.
- Crews use closed-circuit TV to monitor the condition of the pipes.
- Utility specialists educate local restaurants and other businesses how grease can cause blockages in our community's system.
Sanitary sewer overflows
A sanitary sewer overflow is an overflow of untreated wastewater from a collection system that reaches, or has the potential of reaching, state waterways, such as Fountain Creek, in Colorado Springs.
An overflow can be caused by vandalism, tree roots, pipeline settling/failure, grease/debris blockages and severe storm events. Each overflow site is cleaned through recovery of pooled liquids, physical removal of residues and debris, and flushing the area with potable water.