How We Transform Wastewater
Click on an icon to learn more about that treatment process.
After water goes down a sink, toilet or drain in the Denver Metro, it reaches our sewer systems to be treated and released for reuse. We are committed to safe, environmentally sound, and regulatory compliant operations.
Upcoming Potential Regulations
How will upcoming regulations impact Metro? Click on a regulation to read about its impacts.
PFAS
Description
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) describes a family of thousands of human-made chemical compounds found in numerous products used in everyday life. POTWs do not produce, use or manufacture PFAS but receive these chemicals through the wastewater that arrives at treatment plants from homes and businesses. While PFAS requirements are currently in a monitor-only state for Metro, future permit requirements focused on wastewater treatment plants instead of sources of PFAS could have significant impacts on Metro’s pretreatment program, plans for treatment processes, and biosolids land application program.
Timeline
2021-2039
Antidegradation
Description
Antidegradation is a part of federal and state laws and regulations that are intended to maintain and protect water quality. Colorado has three antidegradation designations: Outstanding, Reviewable and Use Protected. State regulators regularly review the designation of each river segment, and changes to South Platte River designations could significantly change the timing and scope of permit requirements, and thus the capital improvement needs, for Metro.
Timeline
2025-2026
Direct Potable Reuse
Description
Direct Potable Reuse is the direct introduction of treated wastewater effluent into a drinking water supply system. The treated effluent is then treated a second time by the drinking water utility. State drinking water regulators are currently developing requirements that will apply to drinking water utilities who want to utilize Direct Potable Reuse and also the wastewater utilities whose effluent will be used as the source water. Direct Potable Reuse of Metro’s effluent may introduce expanded pretreatment requirements as well as additional advanced treatment process improvements.
Resource Recovery and Energy Optimization
Click on a resource below to see where we recover it.