The Cycle of Wastewater

We are the largest wastewater treatment provider in the Rocky Mountain West.

Our mission is to protect the region’s health and environment by cleaning water and recovering resources. We clean water to be suitable for agriculture, aquatic life, recreation, and water supply. In partnership with 61 Denver Metro local governments, comprised of municipalities and sanitation districts, we serve 2.2 million people across an 805 square mile service area.

The Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility and the Northern Treatment Plant process 127 million gallons of wastewater per day. The District operates a 52,000 acre METROGRO Farm in Deer Trail, where a portion of biosolids from the treatment process are used to fertilize and grow crops.

Service Area

We Transform Wastewater

Where it Comes From

Wastewater or sewage is the byproduct of many uses of water, including showering, dishwashing, and flushing the toilet. Industries use water for processes, products and cleaning. After water goes down a sink, toilet or drain in the Denver Metro area, it takes less than 36 hours to reach our sewer systems, be treated, and released for reuse.

How We Clean It

Treatment begins at the headworks where wastewater enters our treatment facilities. Through processing, we generate biosolids that go to enrich Colorado farmland. We then use methane gas from the solid digestion process as fuel to make enough electricity to power almost 4,000 homes! Additionally, in 2020 we began offering heat recovery technology as a sustainable and reliable energy source for residential developers and municipalities.

We Plan, Partner and Monitor

We are committed to safe, environmentally sound and regulatory compliant operations. This requires extensive planning, partnering, and monitoring that involves both our employees and the communities we serve.

We’re Committed

We have a substantial positive impact on the environment by returning reclaimed water, generating electricity and promoting sustainable agriculture. In fact, for six months of the year, 80 percent of the water in the South Platte River comes from the outfalls of our wastewater treatment facility, making the river a unique watershed and resource.