Town of Georgetown, Colorado
Improves Their Phosporus Removal Levels

By Chuck Stearns, Town Administrator, Town of Georgetown

The Town of Georgetown announces that it has greatly reduced phosphorus levels in its wastewater treatment effluent, to the benefit of Clear Creek water quality and downstream water users. Although the Town of Georgetown has no phosphorus limits or requirements in its wastewater discharge permit, the Town voluntarily entered into an agreement with the Upper Clear Creek Watershed Association to get phosphorus levels below 1.00 milligrams/liter as a thirty (30) day average.

On April 8, 2005, John Curtis, the Town of Georgetown’s Water and Wastewater Superintendent, began adding Sodium Aluminate to the effluent in order to remove phosphorus from the effluent. Mr. Curtis initiated this project in early 2005 based on his past experience from other wastewater treatment plants. Mr. Curtis purchased two Lutz-Jesco MAGDOS 2 DX pumps from Water Control Corporation of Denver in order to feed the Sodium Aluminate into the effluent. The monthly average readings for the three months before initiating the Sodium Aluminate treatment and the subsequent three months readings are shown below.

January, 2005 - 1.45 mg/l phosphorus

February, 2005 - 1.48 mg/l

March, 2005 - 1.52 mg/l

Sodium Aluminate was added beginning April 8, 2005

April, 2005 - 0.61 mg/l

May, 2005 - 0.31 mg/l

June, 2005 - 0.24 mg/l

Reduced phosphorus levels in Clear Creek will benefit water quality, fish health, and downstream users’ water quality and their treatment requirements by reducing the nutrient levels in the creek. Many people, municipalities, and species in the Clear Creek and South Platte drainages will benefit from this Georgetown improvement.

For more information contact:

  Lutz-JESCO America Corp.
  55 Bermar Park
  Rochester, NY 14624

  Phone: 800-554-2762
  Fax: 585-426-4025
  E-mail: mail@jescoamerica.com

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