Author: Boxelder Sanitation

In 1965, only those with a bold eye to the future could have predicted the region as it is today. Nearly 60 years later, the trends of staggering growth, innovation and demand—combined with natural beauty and thriving waterways—are defining characteristics of Northern Colorado. Boxelder Sanitation District has helped plan for and manage that evolution every step of the way through the treatment of the region’s wastewater. It’s quite an undertaking, which is why the District’s Board of Directors has been instrumental in shepherding the vision and mission since its inception in 1965.

The board was established with five elected members, charged with the authority to manage, control and supervise all the business and affairs of the District. Its original mission still rings true: To plan for the growth of the region and ensure the treatment system has the capacity for current and future customers of Boxelder Sanitation District. Additionally, the board—which still maintains five elected members—is expected to ensure that all regulatory requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are met.

Meeting growing demand over the years

There’s no better example of the necessity for a board of directors than the recent completion of the District’s plant expansion, illustrating how fiduciary responsibility, a steady guiding vision and management acumen can lead a years-long project to completion.

Over the years, the project has thrived despite external influences like recessions, bursts of population growth, shifting regulatory requirements, technological advancements, and even a pandemic.

It’s work, but someone has to volunteer to do it. In that spirit, we sat down with the current board members to learn a little bit more about what makes them tick and what they see are the biggest challenges for the Boxelder Sanitation District.

 

Meet the Boxelder Sanitation District Board Members

 

Dennis Gatlin

Dennis Gatlin joined the board in 2008, a move that was in step with his long history in community service and his particular passion for public health and the supporting efforts to maintain the vitality of Northern Colorado’s people and places. He’s also an ethics consultant and an orchid-grower (with 400 in his care) so clean water and its uses are particularly in his wheelhouse.

Since joining more than a decade ago, Dennis has immersed himself in the complexities of water—from where it’s sourced, how it’s used and where it’s headed after it hits the drain. Spreading that awareness is one of the key issues he sees facing the District. To Dennis, engaging the community with information and resources on important topics is critical.

“I always encourage community members to learn more and even invite them to attend a future board meeting, if possible,” he says. “We actively listen to any comments and concerns and always heavily consider feedback from our community. We’re here to help our neighbors address needs however possible and always welcome the opportunity to engage with residents on ways we can best serve the community we all call home.” 

 

Andy Chismar

Andy Chismar was elected to the board in 2013. As a former teacher of history and social studies, as well as a current member of the Knights of Columbus, civic involvement was a major draw to becoming a board member. The thought struck Andy after he learned about a study on the intrusion of groundwater into wastewater. With his interest piqued, Andy looked into how he could get further involved.

In his time on the board, Andy has been continually intrigued by how things have changed, and the continuous hard work that goes into the process of treating wastewater in order to safely return it to our water systems. It’s also made him more alert to what you can put down the drain.

What does Andy see as the biggest issue facing the District?

“Growth in the area,” he says. “Since I’ve been on the board, we’ve grown the District and had two plant expansions to meet the needs of the development. But based on what’s happening in the area, it will continue to grow. So, we’re ensuring that we can handle things in an equitable way to make sure people’s needs are being met.”

 

John Giuliano

The owner of a development company in Northern Colorado, John Giuliano brings a unique perspective to the board in that he’s worked with Boxelder for many years as a builder. Specializing in the development of unused farmland into build-ready lots for local contractors gives him a familiarity with the District, as does his even longer history with the board: His father was on the board more than 20 years ago.

“My dad would come home from board meetings and tell me about all of the great things they were working on,” he remembers. “That’s what introduced me to the industry and its importance.”

John was elected to the board in 2016 and during that time he has become more aware and appreciative of how his sewer bill is applied to the day-to-day operations by the District. “Now that I know how complex the entire wastewater process is, it shows just how efficient we are and must continue to be to keep costs down.”

The most pressing issues according to John come from keeping pace with government regulations. “While these are essential to our operations, it does create an ongoing challenge for any district to navigate.”

 

Nate Miller

Nate Miller always held an interest in governmental agencies, but it was the issue of pricing that got him involved in the District.

Nate began attending board meetings to learn more about how the cost of operations was impacting his bill as a customer, and when an opening on the board appeared, he filled the position. That was in the summer of 2019, and since then, his background in construction, purchasing and logistics has given him unique insight into understanding growth, development and the demands a growing population have on infrastructure like wastewater treatment.

Nate says that he used to be like everyone else—a “flush it and forget it” type of customer, but his time on the board has opened his eyes to the fact that there is a whole world connected via pipes beyond his toilet.

To Nate, changes to regulations from the EPA and other governmental agencies cause some of the bigger ongoing challenges for the District.

“The restrictions are changing and moving all the time—they keep moving the goal post,” he says. “[Our challenge] is making sure we can keep up with the changes and adjust the treatment plant to keep up with the regulations that come at any given time.”

Despite the changes, Nate believes the District is well-positioned for growth and for being able to continue to provide a high-quality product.

“It’s fascinating how environmentally neutral the plant is,” he adds. “How environmentally responsible Boxelder is.

 

Nick Armstrong

Nick Armstrong is the Board’s newest member after being elected in 2020, but he’s no stranger to community involvement.

Nick is the lead organizer of Fort Collins’ Comic Con and Start-up Week, the president of the Maple Hill HOA Board and a former candidate in the 2020 Fort Collins City Council election. Beyond that, he’s an entrepreneur and the “geek-in-chief” at a local marketing company.

Since his time on the board, wastewater issues and water conservation have become key interests for Nick, who believes everyone has a part in conserving water and ensuring high water-quality standards.

With that in mind, he sees water consumption and growth as two pressing issues for the District.

“Growth and future development are the biggest issues facing Boxelder,” he says. “Water consumption and treatment are key considerations to the development of any community—and as Fort Collins and Northern Colorado grow, the ability of every partner to be good partners with positive contributions will make sure we continue to have enough clean water for future generations.”

 

Become involved with the Boxelder Sanitation District Board of Directors

Regular Board of Director meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, at 9 a.m., and are open to the public. For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, and until otherwise noted on the District’s website, board meetings may be attended via electronic participation, including for public comment. Interested parties should contact the administration office for more information.

To learn more about the members, read minutes and agendas from past meetings, or see future agendas and schedules, visit https://boxeldersanitation.org/board-of-directors.

Wastewater isn’t something we typically discuss in everyday conversation. In Fort Collins, that’s often reserved for what’s new in town or what weekend adventures are on the horizon. But with the news that Boxelder Sanitation District recently completed the expansion of its new wastewater treatment plant, wastewater is suddenly a topic relevant to both of those Fort Collins staples. After seven years in development, the newly expanded facility is perfectly positioned to service future growth in the area, while also helping ensure residents have clean waterways for adventures to come.

Stellar service and the stewardship of our natural areas are two commitments that have driven the core mission of Boxelder Sanitation District over the years (the District’s name does come from one of our local waterways, Boxelder Creek, after all).

Beginning as a lagoon treatment system that serviced 100 accounts in the early 1960s, the District has kept in step with the rapid growth of Colorado’s Front Range for more than 50 years. With the development of a state-of-the-art facility in 2013 and the final phase of enhancements completed this summer, the new facility boasts increased operational efficiencies, meets evolving regulatory demands, and accommodates future growth.

Today, Boxelder is excited about its continued commitment to the return of clean water into the Cache la Poudre River and being able to do that more efficiently.

How are the enhancements funded?

The construction of upgrades and improvements to the Boxelder Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment Facility were financed by the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority (CWRPDA) State Revolving Fund Program. What does that mean, exactly? Great question.

The CWRPDA is a program administered by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) and provides low-interest loans to wastewater treatment programs like Boxelder. CDPHE works with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Colorado to sell bonds, the proceeds of which turn into loans for service providers like Boxelder. These loans allow for the undertaking of large-scale projects in order to keep up with growing demand, the flexibility to improve expensive equipment or processes, and the ability to fund enhancements that bring facilities up to evolving regulations.

To date, Boxelder has taken out two of these loans. The first loan—funded by monthly service charges and plant investment fees—was used to enable the development of the new facility in 2013. The second loan, which was applied to the most recent improvements completed this summer, was funded by new development fees since the additions were sparked by a need to keep up with growth and we believe that growth pays its own way.

What are some of the exciting new developments at the facility?

While the first loan created a new facility to match current demand, the second loan funded the upgrades and creation of essential processes to support future demand, including additional oxidation ditches, clarifiers, an expanded ultra-violet disinfection system and a new biosolids treatment system. In total, the new facility is able to treat wastewater in a way that creates cleaner water and trades out chemicals like chlorine—a win for residents and our natural areas.

The new biosolids treatment system has more control over the treatment process and is more efficient, which supports the goal of creating superior clean water, but also makes for a pretty interesting lesson in science. In the previous lagoon system, solids would sink to the bottom of the water. Every couple of years, a contracted company would come to pump the sludge out of the lagoon, which was an expensive but common and necessary solution. This system also complicated the overall treatment plant process with the potential release of phosphorous into the water.

How the Treatment Plant works: A very short lesson in wastewater treatment

 At the plant, wastewater enters the headworks facility and engages the primary treatment, which removes inorganic materials and grit via screens that rotate. The waste then enters oxidation ditches and clarifiers. In the oxidation ditches, microorganisms deconstruct matter and consume waste materials through a biochemical process.

Two types of microorganisms (we call them “bugs”), those that thrive in oxygen-rich environments, and those that prefer oxygen-deficient environments, do the heavy lifting here. Through the careful regulation of airflow, an environment that promotes aerobic and anaerobic activity is created, spurring along a faster and more efficient breakdown of solids than, say, naturally in a lake or river.

The next step involves the calming act of clarification. New clarifiers intake the wastewater directly from the oxidation ditches and make room for the water to slowly pool. This placid environment allows the properties of water—primarily density—to go to work. All of the once-suspended pieces of matter eventually begin to drop to the bottom of the clarifiers. Once those particles are safely on the bottom, the clear water leaves the clarifier and travels to an ultra-violet light disinfection system to eliminate any potential leftover organisms. Finally, the clean water flows back into our waterways.

Not only is this overall process safer for the environment, it’s also up to the newest regulations like Regulation 85, a nutrient regulation concerned with total nitrogen and phosphorous in the water released back into the wild.

Setting up a clean, healthy future

Higher density development means more wastewater in the District. While it’s not typically something people discuss in everyday conversation, it is something Boxelder is committed to addressing day-in and day-out, like it has for the last 50 years. That’s because in order for area residents to enjoy a clean, healthy future, there needs to be a service committed to transforming our wastewater into clean, healthy water.

You can learn more about the project at boxeldersanitation.org/current-projects.

The history of Boxelder Sanitation District

The concept of “The American West” is something that’s mythologized not just in the United States, but all over the world. Manifest Destiny. The Wild West. People enjoying the beauty from “sea to shining sea,” as it goes. But while western expansion tamed the wild landscape via laid infrastructure like trails then railroad, and soon highways, another type of infrastructure was just as essential to bringing modern populations across the plains: water and sanitation.

Like the Europeans discovered centuries ago, densely populated societies create waste, and if that waste isn’t disposed of properly, society can fall apart very quickly. For an area like Northern Colorado, which has transformed from a once-important trading hub to a highly-populated area of modern commerce, sanitary sewer service is one of the pillars that has supported its growth.

For more than 50 years, Boxelder Sanitation District has acted as a reliable utility to ensure residents of this important area can enjoy clean living in their homes and places of business, while also enjoying clean recreation in the natural areas they love so much.

 

The history of Boxelder Sanitation District

With news reports that Colorado’s population is on track to grow by roughly 2 million people through 2050, it can be hard for new residents in the area to imagine what life must have been like back in the mid-20^th century. Quieter in comparison. Maybe a bit slower and simpler if looking through the lens of nostalgic hindsight. But with a population that was quietly ramping up, sewer service was a hot topic for those in the know. That’s why, in the midst of growth, Boxelder Sanitation was formed.

Officially formed in 1965, the Boxelder Sanitation District was created as a Special District under Title 32 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. For the unfamiliar, other special districts also formed by this legislation included fire protection districts, water, health and parks and recreation services—all essential services for the current and future health of area residents.

The District was created by a group of forward-thinking, visionary property owners. These owners saw a need for sanitary sewer services in-and-around the intersection of I-25 and East Mulberry Street, and perhaps understood that the lack of plans to service this area not only caused issues for them at the time but also throttled any progress for future growth.

When the Boxelder Sanitation District was officially formed in 1965, it included less than 100 accounts.

 

The importance of sewer services

Before we jump from 100 accounts in the mid-1960s to Boxelder’s growth (which parallels the area’s growth) let’s take a moment to examine why sanitation and sewer services are so vital.

For anyone who has read up on the history of civilization, played the video game The Sims, or used a toilet, it’s clear that wastewater management and sewer systems are crucial elements to overall sanitation and disease prevention. Here in Northern Colorado, we’re not only gifted with tremendous open natural areas and pristine wildlife beauty, but also incredible water, whether in the stream or tap. Without a proper wastewater treatment system like the one managed by Boxelder, our environment and water supply would quickly become contaminated and spread disease throughout our population.

With the creation of Boxelder Sanitation District in the 1960s, those original 100 accounts became the cornerstone for ensuring this area would have proper wastewater management and clean water for generations to come.

 

The growth of Boxelder and the region

Since the formation of the District in 1965, the population of Northern Colorado has grown at breakneck speed. In 1960, Larimer County had roughly 54,000 residents. According to the most recent annual population estimate from the American Community Survey in 2019, that population clocked in at a whopping 356,899. That type of growth is indicative of the pace of growth Boxelder Sanitation District has experienced, which covers portions of Fort Collins, Windsor, Severance, Timnath and unincorporated areas of Larimer and Weld counties.

The extension of collection lines and treatment plant upgrades required for new development are paid for by developers seeking services under the District’s philosophy that growth pays its way. By operating this way, current Boxelder customers can rest easy knowing that the District keeps them as the number one priority—well, at least tied for number one next to clean wastewater.

 

Boxelder Sanitation District today

As forward-thinking as the original founders of the District were, they couldn’t have imagined how important to the county, and densely populated, this area would one day become. Today, the District maintains 100 miles of sewer lines and treats approximately 1,940,000 gallons of wastewater each day (that’s 700 million gallons a year). The reason why so much water is processed by Boxelder is because each household in the District uses roughly 100 gallons of water per day—that’s a lot of water. Businesses and commercial sites, like our beloved breweries, use even more. In an area where water is such an important and limited commodity, it’s essential that services like Boxelder tend to the treatment of our used water before it’s returned to Boxelder Creek and the Poudre River.

That commitment to the health of residents and the environment has not gone unnoticed. The Boxelder treatment plant has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its ability to treat wastewater. Learn more about that process over at our wastewater treatment page.

 

Clean water for years to come

Wastewater treatment is often considered a silent, yet essential, service for a happy, healthy life and we like to keep it that way. Boxelder customers shouldn’t have to think too hard about their wastewater—with the exception of much-needed and appreciated water conservation practices—because we’re here to make sure wastewater is properly cleaned in order to help maintain our fragile ecosystem. From the 1960s to the 2020s, that mission remains the same—though slightly bigger in scope today.