The Fountain Creek Recovery Project is an effort to protect the environment and our customers, and to keep potential wastewater overflows from reaching downstream landowners and communities.
The project includes:
- The use of the existing Stubbs-Miller Ditch, a former irrigation ditch located in south Colorado Springs, to divert contaminated water from Fountain Creek to a recovery pond.
- The ditch’s intake and intake channel are lined with concrete.
- An 18.5 million gallon capacity, lined spill pond.
- During a spill, water in Fountain Creek is diverted to this pond.
- Water is then transferred to Las Vegas Street Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment.
- A 20 million gallon capacity pond for storing clean water for water rights exchanges.
- All components of the recovery project are located on Springs Utilities land.
Purpose of project – what type of spills can it capture?
Any wastewater system carries a risk for spills. The Fountain Creek Recovery Project can capture flows in Fountain Creek approximately 300 days out of the year (normal flows in Fountain Creek) making it possible to keep spills caused by vandalism, grease blockages and failed bypass operations from reaching downstream residents and communities.
To reduce the risk for spills during severe storm events, we are rehabilitating wastewater pipes that cross local creeks. Additionally, City Council’s approval of a stormwater enterprise will further reduce the risk for storm-caused overflows.
Environmental considerations and odor issues
- Five state and federal permits were obtained to construct the project.
- An ongoing maintenance program will pro-actively address any cracking to preserve the integrity of the system and to protect groundwater.
- The spill containing pond is lined with asphalt.
- The duration that Fountain Creek water would reside in the spill containing pond will vary depending on the size of the spill event. It will be no longer than a total of three days time, after which the pond will be washed with clean water.
