Wastewater Treatment

The sanitary sewer system collects wastewater flows created each time a resident turns on a tap, runs a washing machine, or flushes a toilet. Wastewater discharges from schools, businesses and industries are also combined into this system. This complex system quietly does a job we simply can’t live without.

Used water and sewage is cleaned at a wastewater treatment plant so it can be returned safely to our environment.

Depending on the location of the home or business in the City of Brighton, the wastewater discharges to one of two wastewater treatment plants (see map below). Utility customers located west of Tower Road discharge sanitary sewer waste into the Metro Water Recovery Northern Treatment Plant. East of Tower Road, customers discharge sanitary sewer waste into the Town of Lochbuie Wastewater Treatment Plant. Plant personnel are responsible for the proper operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plants and compliance with all State and EPA regulations.

The followings general processes take place at a plant:

• Solids removal (everything from rags and plastics to sand and smaller particles found in wastewater)
• Organic matter and pollutants removal (naturally occurring helpful bacteria and other microorganisms consume organic matter in wastewater)
• Disinfection (to improve the quality of effluent released into our South Platte river)

It is important to understand that the City of Brighton sanitary sewer system does not collect stormwater. Stormwater, which includes runoff from the streets from rain or melting snow, goes through a separate system of sewers that is discharged directly into the South Platte river.