Fort Collins Utilities’ Water Treatment and Drake Water Reclamation Facilities Honored for Statewide

Release Date: Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Contact: Patty Bigner
Customer and Employee Relations Manager
Fort Collins Utilities, (970) 416-2432

www.cdphe.state.co.us/oeis/elp/index.html

Fort Collins Utilities’ Water Treatment Facility has received its third consecutive Environmental Achievement Award from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), advancing from the Bronze to the Silver Tier.
Additionally, the Drake Water Reclamation Facility was nominated this year and also received the Silver Tier award.

Receiving the Environmental Achievement Award ties into the Utilities 21st Century approach to inspire community leadership by reducing environmental impact while benefiting customers, the economy and society.

These awards recognize the voluntary, beyond-compliance environmental achievements of both facilities. By accepting the Silver Partnership, entities must be committed to meeting the advanced Gold Leader criteria in three years with a fully functional Environmental Management System.

The Water Treatment Facility was honored for accomplishments in energy efficiency practices, including electric load shedding to reduce peak charges, and high-efficiency lighting, ballasts and office motion sensors; chemical containment storage areas; solar panels at remote reservoir site; and extensive recycling efforts.

The Drake Water Reclamation Facility received recognition for reduced energy consumption during peak demand periods, which resulted in decreased costs, coal usage and power plant emissions; elimination of odor control chemicals through use of compost and wood chip biofilters; methane-operated equipment, now used to heat 13 or 16 facility buildings; and energy efficiency and recycling practices.

“Fort Collins Utilities is proud of our Silver Environmental Leadership Program winners,” said Utilities Executive Director Brian Janonis. “These are examples of our employees’ commitments to sustainability and environmental stewardship, as are embedded in our practices and operations.”

For more information, call Fort Collins Utilities at (970) 221-6700, visit www.cdphe.state.co.us/oeis/elp/index.html, e-mail or TDD (970) 224-6003.