Industrial Pretreatment Program

Sewer Service Area:
Industrial pre-treatment requirements are applicable according to the sanitary sewer service area in which the Industrial User is located. There are 2 service areas in Brighton:

  1. Utility customers located west of Tower Road are serviced by the City of Brighton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).
  2. Utility customers on the east side of Tower Road discharge into the Town of Lochbuie WWTP.

Both Wastewater Treatment Plants discharge into public waters. As a "direct discharger" to these waters, the facilities must meet the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Rather than discharging to waters of the state, your business discharges to the city's WWTP. As an "indirect discharger", you may be subject to the regulations and requirements of the City of Brighton.

At this time, both WWTP are currently not required to implement an Industrial Pretreatment Program because both facilities discharge less than 5 MGD. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is the government entity responsible for regulating Industrial Users located within the service area of POTWs without an approved Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Future Pretreatment Program
A formal Industrial Pretreatment program will be adopted and delegated to the Northern Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant by 2015. This program will be applicable for Industrial Users located on the west side of the city, under Brighton's WWTP service area.

Pretreatment Definition

Pretreatment is defined as the treatment of a wastewater before it is discharged to the municipal sewage treatment plant. The purpose is to ensure that the city meets NPDES requirements. Therefore, the city sets standards and guidelines that all commercial and industrial businesses (which discharge other than normal wastewater) must meet.

Local Businesses

The City of Brighton Utilities Department works with local businesses to ensure that toxic and dangerous substances are not discharged into the sanitary sewer system by reviewing construction plans, performing site inspections, monitoring discharges, and enforcing standards and requirements. New or existing businesses operating in Brighton may be required to:

  • Complete an Utility Survey. This is the simplest way for the city to assess the nature of your wastewater.
  • Utility Survey Inspections. City inspection to assess the quality, strength, and quantity of wastewater that your business generates.
  • Pretreatment Installation or Maintenance Requirements. If conditions warrant, the City of Brighton may require your business to install appropriate pretreatment devices to ensure protection of the wastewater collection and treatment systems. Pretreatment devices must be privately maintained. Records and receipts for waste disposal must available for review and kept filed on-site for at least three years.