Facilities
The Eagle River Water & Sanitation District (District) owns and operates three wastewater treatment facilities located in Vail, Avon and Edwards. Combined, these facilities treat an average of 4.4 million gallons of wastewater per day (MGD). The current total design treatment capacity is 9.95 MGD. Each facility is staffed and operated 365 days a year by 14 full-time employees. A brief summary of each treatment facility follows.
Avon Wastewater Treatment Facility
This facility has a design capacity of 4.3 MGD and services the communities of Minturn, West Vail, Eagle Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek, Mountain Star, and some of Wildridge. The facility was built in 1966 and expanded in 1997 to include an ATAD solids handling process. The Avon WWTF, staffed by 5 full-time employees, uses a conventional plug flow activated sludge treatment process. Capital improvement projects were completed in 2005 and 2006 and included the installation and implementation of the following:
-Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA)
-UV disinfection system
-ATAD aeration system upgrade
-ATAD foam reducing pumps
-In-line process monitoring equipment
-Backup generator
-Automated valves for SCADA
Vail Wastewater Treatment Facility
This facility has a design capacity of 2.7 MGD and services the communities of East Vail, Vail and a small portion of West Vail. The facility was built in 1969, expanded in 1982 and is staffed by 4 full-time employees. The Vail WWTF uses a conventional plug flow activated sludge wastewater treatment process without solids handling. Solids are conveyed to the Avon WWTF for processing. Capital Improvement Projects were completed in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006 and included the installation and implementation of the following:
-Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA)
-Efficient automated blower system and valves for aeration
-UV disinfection system
Edwards Wastewater Treatment Facility
This facility has a design capacity of 2.95 MGD, is staffed by four full-time employees and services the communities of Edwards, Cordillera, Homestead, Arrowhead, Singletree, Bachelor Gulch, Cordillera Valley Club, Wildridge, and Mountain Star. The facility was built in 1981 and expanded in 1986. It was upgraded in 2001 to include an autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) process for solids treatment. The Edwards WWTF uses a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment process. Capital improvement projects were completed in 2001 and 2006 for the installation and implementation of the following:
-Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA)
-ATAD solids handling system
-Increased volume for odor control air handling system
-UV disinfection system
-Efficient automated blower system for aeration
Biosolids Containment Facility (BCF)
The Biosolids Containment Facility was constructed in 1990 on District property in Wolcott to store and handle the Class A biosolids produced by the Avon and Edwards WWTFs. In 2005, the BCF was resurfaced to improve the storage and drying processes of solids treatment. On an annual basis, this facility handles approximately 2000 metric tons of 80% dry biosolids that can be used as a soil conditioner for certain applications. Please visit our biosolids page for more information.
Collection System
Wastewater is generated by residential, commercial, and industrial sources and collected by a system of sewer mains designed to deliver it to the wastewater treatment facilities located throughout the valley. In most cases, wastewater flow is moved through the sewer mains by gravity. However, there are situations where gravity is insufficient and the need for pump stations, or lift stations, is required. The District currently operates six lift stations. Some subdivisions and other system users operate private lift stations.
Lift stations are monitored with a lift station telemetry system. This system was initially constructed and put into service in 1982 and has been upgraded with newer technology over the years. The system monitors each station for various information including wet well levels, pumps status, station operation, and alarm status.
The Eagle River Water and Sanitation District Distribution and Collection Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of seven lift stations, 5,137 manholes and 210 miles of sewer main.