History of Wastewater Treatment

Late 1880s – Leaders of fast-growing Fort Collins discuss need for a sewer system. Alleviating standing water in the center of town after rain or snow is the biggest challenge.

1888 – Town installs first pipeline, made of brick and tile and containing nine manholes, along Mountain Avenue. Initially designed to drain water, it later is modified to also handle sewage.

1900-1910 – Town population increases to 8,200 people. By 1910, Fort Collins has 19.5 miles of sewer lines.

1948 - Mulberry Water Reclamation Facility opens. It is designed to treat an average of three million gallons per day (MGD) and serve 20,000 people.

1968 - Drake Water Reclamation Facility opens. It is designed to treat 4 MGD, but due to tremendous population growth, treatment capacity is exceeded in just three years.

1974 – Upgrades begin on the Mulberry facility, expansion of the Drake facility and construction of an interceptor sewer to carry excess flow from the Mulberry facility to the Drake facility.

1982 - Voters approve annexing land for the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Agreement is signed for the City to treat brewery wastewater. Drake facility is expanded and modified, funded primarily by Anheuser-Busch.

1987 - Drake Water Reclamation Facility receives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award. The EPA also names the facility the best- operated plant of its size in Region VIII (CO, MT, UT, WY, ND and SD).

1990 – Utilities purchases Meadow Springs Ranch, a 26,000-acre ranch north of Fort Collins, for future land application of biosolids.

1993 – Drake Water Reclamation Facility receives the EPA's O & M Excellence Award for being the "best operated facility of its size and type in the nation."

1994 – Drake facility again is expanded and today treats an average of 6.5 billion gallons of wastewater annually and applies approximately 2,000 tons of biosolids to agricultural land as fertilizer