West Montrose Sanitation District was created on April 3, 1974 pursuant to Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statues, known as the Special District Act.  The purpose of the District is to:

1. Establish, maintain, and manage the collection and treatment of wastewater within the District’s service area in compliance with provisions of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended for discharges to surface waters as authorized in the discharge permit issued under the Colorado Discharge Permit system in accordance and consistent with limitations, requirements, and other terms and conditions set forth in the permit. 
2. To maintain compliance with the requirements of Article 9 of Title 25 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which require that every domestic wastewater treatment facility and wastewater collection system be under the direct supervision of a certified operator, holding a certificate in a class equal to  or higher than the class of the facility or system as specified in Regulation No. 100 (5 CCR 1003-2), and designated as the “Operator in Responsible Charge” (ORC) of the treatment facility or the collection system as specified in section 100.17 of the regulation.
3. To carry out the purposes as defined in title 32 of the Colorado revised Statutes.

Wastewater Collection System

The wastewater collection system provides for safe collection and transmission of wastewater within the underground sewer mains and interceptor lines. The responsibility of the Wastewater Collection Operator in Responsible Charge is to maintain the collection system in such a manner that protects the public safety, health and environment and complies with all regulations governing the system.

The District has approximately 26 miles of gravity wastewater lines totaling 137,280 linear feet comprised of 15, 12, 10, 8, and 6 inch PVC and truss pipe and over 500 manholes and clean outs.  The District has eliminated lift stations, except for privately maintained systems on individual service lines.  The wastewater collection system collects the wastewater from residential areas and transports it to the District’s wastewater treatment plant located on LaSalle Rd.

The District employs three operators certified through the State of Colorado, and hires independent contractors, to maintain the wastewater collection system, through general maintenance and emergency situations, 24 hours a day. 

Wastewater Treatment Facility

The wastewater treatment facilities consist of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) activated sludge treatment plant with a design capacity of 0.7 million gallons per day (MGD), and a four cell sludge stabilization lagoon system. 

The SBR consists of two lined earthen reaction basins.  Each basin has a 50-hp mixer and three 60-hp aerators.  The plant operations are managed and monitored using a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system with multiple probes and monitors placed throughout the system. 

Treated effluent is disinfected using ultraviolet light.  The light intensity is varied based on water transmissivity.  Because wastewater is treated in batches, discharges to the disinfection system are intermittent at a flow rate of approximately 4.6 MGD.