Colorado Springs Utilities JD Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility

1. INTRODUCTION

The J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) represents the newest and most technologically advanced of the three major wastewater treatment assets operated by Colorado Springs Utilities. Strategically located to serve the rapidly expanding eastern corridor of the Pikes Peak region, the facility was recently the subject of a massive capital expansion project that more than doubled its hydraulic capacity to 20 million gallons per day (MGD). As a critical component of the Lower Fountain Creek watershed management strategy, the plant utilizes advanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes to meet Colorado’s stringent Regulation 85 nutrient limits.

Originally commissioned in 2006 with a modest capacity, the facility has evolved into a regional powerhouse. Following a $100+ million expansion completed in 2021, the JD Phillips WRRF now features state-of-the-art aeration basins, secondary clarifiers, and solids handling capabilities. It serves as a model for municipal consulting engineers studying capacity scaling in high-growth semi-arid environments, demonstrating how modular design and advanced process control can balance urban development with strict environmental stewardship.

2. FACILITY OVERVIEW

A. Service Area & Coverage

The JD Phillips WRRF serves the “East Powers” service area, a geographic zone defined by substantial residential subdivision growth and commercial development surrounding the Colorado Springs Airport. This catchment area includes the massive Banning Lewis Ranch development, which is projected to house tens of thousands of new residents over the coming decades. The collection system feeding the plant relies on a network of gravity interceptors and strategic lift stations designed to convey flows from the undulating terrain of the eastern plains.

B. Operational Capacity

The facility currently operates with a hydraulic design capacity of 20 MGD, with organic loading capabilities designed to handle the higher-strength waste typical of water-conserving modern communities.

• Design Capacity: 20 MGD
• Peak Hydraulic Capacity: ~50 MGD (for wet weather events)
• Capacity Utilization: Currently operating at approximately 40-50% of its new design capacity, providing significant runway for regional growth.

Future master planning includes provisions for eventual expansion to 40 MGD and ultimately 60 MGD, dependent on the build-out rate of the eastern service area.

C. Discharge & Compliance

Treated effluent is discharged into Fountain Creek, a sensitive tributary of the Arkansas River. The discharge is regulated under the Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS). The facility plays a pivotal role in managing total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrogen, and phosphorus loads in the Arkansas River basin. The plant’s outfall is located immediately adjacent to the facility, discharging into Segment 2a of Fountain Creek, a water body with specific classifications for aquatic life, recreation, and agriculture.

3. TREATMENT PROCESS

The JD Phillips WRRF utilizes a sophisticated liquid treatment train centered on Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) to achieve low effluent nutrient concentrations without heavy reliance on chemical precipitation.

A. Preliminary Treatment

The headworks facility is designed to protect downstream mechanical equipment and reduce inorganic loading.

• Screening: The facility employs multi-rake mechanical bar screens (typically 6mm spacing) to remove rags and large debris.
• Grit Removal: Vortex grit chambers utilize centrifugal force to separate dense inorganic particles (sand, gravel) from the organic waste stream.
• Odor Control: The headworks and primary distribution structures are enclosed and ventilated to biofilters to mitigate nuisance odors for nearby developments.

B. Secondary Treatment (Biological Nutrient Removal)

The core of the treatment process occurs in the BNR basins. The recent expansion added significant basin volume to support nitrification and denitrification.

• Process Configuration: The plant utilizes a variation of the A2O (Anaerobic-Anoxic-Oxic) or 5-Stage Bardenpho process. This configuration creates specific environmental zones to cultivate bacteria responsible for biological phosphorus removal and nitrogen reduction.
• Aeration: Fine-bubble diffused aeration systems provide oxygen transfer in the aerobic zones. High-efficiency turbo blowers supply air, modulated by real-time dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia sensors to optimize energy consumption.
• Clarification: The mixed liquor flows to circular secondary clarifiers (featuring energy-dissipating inlets and flocculating center wells) where biological solids settle. The recent expansion added two large-diameter secondary clarifiers to the existing battery.
• RAS/WAS: Return Activated Sludge (RAS) is pumped back to the anaerobic zone to maintain biomass, while Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) is selectively removed to control Mean Cell Residence Time (MCRT).

C. Disinfection

Following secondary clarification, the effluent passes through a dedicated Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection facility.

• Technology: Low-pressure, high-intensity UV lamp banks.
• Safety & Efficiency: This method eliminates the need for chlorination and subsequent dechlorination chemicals (sulfur dioxide/bisulfite), ensuring no residual toxicity reaches Fountain Creek and improving safety for operators.

D. Solids Handling

Historically, JD Phillips transferred solids to the Las Vegas Street facility or Clear Spring Ranch. However, the expansion significantly bolstered on-site solids handling capabilities.

• Thickening: Waste activated sludge is thickened via rotary drum thickeners (RDT) or gravity belt thickeners (GBT) to reduce hydraulic volume.
• Dewatering: The facility utilizes high-solids centrifuges to produce a sludge cake.
• Disposal: Dewatered biosolids are trucked to Colorado Springs Utilities’ Clear Spring Ranch facility for composting or land application, contributing to a regional Class A biosolids program.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE & FACILITIES

A. Physical Plant

Situated on a spacious site east of the Powers corridor, the facility layout is designed for modular expansion. The architecture utilizes split-faced block and earth tones to blend with the high-plains environment. The site includes a dedicated Administration and Operations building housing SCADA control rooms and a process laboratory.

B. Energy Systems

Energy efficiency was a primary driver in the recent design.

• Aeration Blowers: The switch to high-speed turbo blowers with air foil bearings has reduced aeration energy demand by approximately 20-30% compared to conventional multi-stage centrifugal blowers.
• VFDs: Variable Frequency Drives are ubiquitous across the plant, controlling all major pumps (RAS, WAS, influent lift) to match power draw to hydraulic load.

C. Odor Control

With residential encroachments increasing, odor control is paramount. The facility utilizes dual-stage biotower systems and activated carbon polishing for peak odor loading periods. Air from the headworks and solids handling building is treated to maintain negative pressure, preventing fugitive emissions.

5. RECENT UPGRADES & MAJOR PROJECTS

6. REGULATORY COMPLIANCE & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

A. Permit Requirements

The facility operates under a CDPS permit administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Critical parameters include:

• Nutrients: Under Regulation 85, the plant targets Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN) of <15 mg/L and Total Phosphorus (TP) of <1.0 mg/L (annual running averages), with stricter limits anticipated in future permit cycles (Regulation 31).
• E. Coli: Strict geometric mean limits protect downstream recreational use.
• Metals: Monitoring for dissolved metals (selenium, copper) is required due to the geology of the Fountain Creek watershed.

B. Environmental Stewardship

JD Phillips is integral to the “Southern Delivery System” water return strategy. By treating water to high standards and returning it to Fountain Creek, Colorado Springs Utilities meets its return flow obligations, allowing the city to fully utilize its trans-mountain water rights. The high-quality effluent supports riparian habitats downstream along the Fountain Creek corridor.

7. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

A. Staffing & Certification

The plant is staffed by Colorado Class A certified wastewater operators. Colorado Springs Utilities maintains a rigorous internal training program, ensuring staff are proficient in BNR biology, SCADA logic, and mechanical troubleshooting. The facility operates 24/7/365, utilizing a mix of on-site staffing and remote monitoring from the central control center.

B. Technology & Innovation

The facility utilizes a unified SCADA system integrated with the utility’s other wastewater plants (Las Vegas Street and Clear Spring Ranch). This integration allows for “load shedding” and flow diversion strategies between plants during emergency maintenance or extreme wet weather events. The plant also utilizes real-time nutrient analyzers to automate the pacing of internal recycle pumps and air supply.

8. CHALLENGES & FUTURE PLANNING

A. Current Challenges

• Technological Limits of Limit of Technology (LOT): As Colorado moves toward Regulation 31 (Lake Nutrients), the facility may eventually require tertiary filtration or membrane technologies to achieve phosphorus levels below 0.1 mg/L.
• Emerging Contaminants: Like all WRRFs, JD Phillips is monitoring developments regarding PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) regulations, which may require future capital investments in granular activated carbon or ion exchange.

B. Future Planning

The site master plan accommodates a build-out to 60 MGD. Future phases will mirror the modular design of the recent expansion, adding parallel treatment trains. The utility is also exploring opportunities for direct potable reuse (DPR) in the long term, which would transform the facility from a disposal asset to a water production asset.

9. COMMUNITY & REGIONAL IMPACT

The JD Phillips WRRF enables the economic development of eastern Colorado Springs. Without this facility, the housing developments at Banning Lewis Ranch and commercial expansion near the Colorado Springs Airport would be sewer-constrained. The facility’s unobtrusive design and effective odor control have allowed it to coexist successfully with neighboring residential zones, maintaining property values while providing essential sanitation services.

10. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY

11. FAQ SECTION

Technical/Professional Questions

1. What is the current treatment capacity of JD Phillips WRRF?
Following the 2021 expansion, the rated hydraulic capacity is 20 MGD.

2. Does the facility utilize chemical precipitation for phosphorus removal?
The facility is designed for Biological Phosphorus Removal (Bio-P) to minimize chemical costs, though provisions for alum or ferric backup exist for process upset conditions.

3. Who was the general contractor for the recent expansion?
Garney Construction served as the CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk), with Carollo Engineers providing design services.

4. How are biosolids handled?
Solids are thickened and dewatered on-site via centrifuges, then trucked to the Clear Spring Ranch facility for composting/beneficial reuse.

Public Interest Questions

5. Does the plant smell?
The facility utilizes advanced biofilters and activated carbon scrubbers to treat air from the headworks and solids buildings, minimizing odors for the surrounding community.

6. Where does the treated water go?
The cleaned water (effluent) is discharged into Fountain Creek, where it flows south to the Arkansas River, supporting agriculture and wildlife.

7. Is the water safe to touch?
Yes, the effluent is disinfected using UV light to kill bacteria and pathogens before discharge, meeting strict state health standards for recreational water bodies.