Our Story

Construction of our first facility, the Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility and 50 miles of interceptor sewer lines, began in 1964. The plant began operating in 1966. Scroll through the timeline below to learn more. For a comprehensive history of Metro Water Recovery until 2009, read A 45-Year History by Steve Frank here.

1961

1964 65 Aerial RWHTF Pre Construction 1

Civic leaders of 13 metropolitan Denver cities signed an historic agreement on May 15, 1961, that created the Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District No. 1.

1961
1966

Metro Wastewater Reclamation 119824 S1 Slide 24 Plant 1966

Central Plant was completed and began accepting test flows from Denver’s North Side Plant late in the year.

1966
1972

1971 Metro Sludge Disposal In Ash Lagoons01

The District began conducting research on land application of biosolids. It also established agriculture test plots near Watkins. 

1972
1972

Metro W 59375 S1 0021

Congress passed the far-reaching Clean Water Act, and it was signed into law by then-President Richard Nixon in October.

1972
1973

1972 Early Beneficial Reuse Of Sludge Research

Metro beneficially recycled biosolids in 1973 by trucking vacuum-filtered sludge cake (about 16% solids) to the old Lowry Bombing Range, spreading the solid material onto the surface to dry and then disking the dried sludge cake into the soil with farm implements. The applied areas were seeded with wheat after adequate dormant time to minimize seed inhibition. 

1973
1976

1977 MDSDD No 1 Aerial Central Treatment Plant With Digesters No Cogen

In December, the South Plant went online when flows were directed there for the first time, roughly doubling Metro’s treatment capacity.

1976
1977

Metro Wastewater Reclamation 119824 S1 Slide 35 Building Digesters 1977

Eight new 244,000-cubic-foot anaerobic digesters were completed in 1977 to digest Metro’s sludge. 

1977
1984

1983 ConstructionCrossingSoTionPlatteRiverAtCTP TRN83 0064

Metro expanded its role as a regional wastewater treatment agency in 1984 with the completion of much of its $126 million sewer improvements program and the takeover of Denver’s common wastewater facilities. 

1984
1984

MDSDD No 1 1982 June 1 Sand Creek Interceptor Coming Into The Plant

The Metro District system grew dramatically with the addition of more than 171 miles of interceptors and the Denver Northside Plant primary facilities. Its services were extended to more than 23 local governments, which previously had been served through Denver. These local governments are now referred to as Special Connectors.

1984
1984

1979 Administration Building C

With the acquisition of the Denver common system, the District planned to build new primary treatment facilities at its Central Plant to replace the older Denver Northside primary facilities.

1984
1985

MDSDD No 1 1985 CoGen Engines Generators

The $7.8 million cogeneration facility went online in April.

1985
1986

1986 AlHehrAndLesMcDaniels ADM86 0111

The industrial waste control (pretreatment) program began.

1986
1987

1983 DocumentSigningEventWithDenver HiteAndMcNichols ADM83 0002

The Denver Northside Treatment Plant was shut down. 

1987
1987

1985 CompostApplicationForReclamationOfOverlandPondEducationPark RRR85 0240

The District reduced costs by switching to applying sludge cake on agricultural land. 

1987
1990

1997 NewSign

The board changed the name of the organization from Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District No. 1 to Metro Wastewater Reclamation District.

1990
1991

1989 Nitrification Project East Blower Bldg May MDSDDNo1 TRT89 019

The District completed improvements to the Nitrification/Denitrification System and optimized its performance. This $47.2 million system involved extensive modifications to the District’s treatment facilities. 

1991
1994

2009 Marsha Casteel Training On New Purchasing System

The District adopted e-mail.

1994
1995

1995 IncorporatingBiosolidsAtDeerTrailFarm Summer

The District purchased approximately 36,000 acres of property near Deer Trail, Colorado, adding to the 1993 purchase of 9,900 acres. 

1995
1998

1993 DigestersFortreatingBiosolids

Staff implemented the Fixed Asset Replacement Program. 

1998
2000

2000 Scaled E1629733985983

Metro initiated its Comprehensive Planning Program.

2000
2001

2001 Scaled E1629734027460

For the first time in its 35-year history, Metro’s employees achieved a million man-hours worked without a lost-time accident. 

2001
2002

2002 Scaled E1629733549888

Metro adopted the Service Area Utility Plan to manage the Transmission System. Flows decreased and farming operations took a hit during a historic drought that hit Colorado and the West.

2002
2004

2004 Scaled E1629733652682

Metro began a major update to South Platte River Water Quality Model to assess impact of in-plant treatment and in-stream improvements.

2004
2006

2006 Scaled E1629733783632

Metro began using a new, computerized Laboratory Information Management System, called LabWorks. Metro also incorporated geographic information system (GIS) technologies into its systems.

2006
2009

METROGRO Compost Bag Of With Gardener Scaled E1629824779468

Metro phases out the production of Class A compost and associated buildings are removed. Board of Directors downsized from 67 to 34 members via reapportionment with revision to an establishing statute.

2009
2010

2010 Scaled E1629733934457

Metro’s Board of Directors approved the Northern Treatment Plant Wastewater Utility Plan. 

2010
2016

NorthMetroWater 205c E1623541364155

The Northern Treatment Plant begins operation in Brighton, Colorado.

2016
2016

2014 Oct Primary Clarifier In North Complex Scaled E1623884579942

The Board of Directors adopt the Metro District’s Strategic Plan

2016
2018

Delgany And Delgany Interceptors Old E1623881502591

Planning begins for the Second Creek Interceptor, a major pipeline that will travel through portions of Adams County, Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, and Denver International Airport to be served by the District’s Northern Treatment Plant. 

2018
2020

MagPrex 1 Copy Scaled E1623881378952

The largest MagPrex phosphorus recovery reactor in the world begins operation at the RWHTF.  

2020