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South Platte Renew projects to push costs higher in 2030s; plant testing seeks lower-cost technology
Summary
South Platte Renew managers told Englewood the regional treatment plant faces large capital needs by the 2030s, including possible cooling towers tied to temperature limits under Colorado regulation 31; the agency is testing new nutrient-removal and biogas technologies to reduce long-term costs.
Representatives from South Platte Renew outlined a multi-year capital plan and a proactive program of pilot testing to address looming regulatory and infrastructure needs.
Peter (South Platte Renew representative) told the board South Platte Renew is a 50-50 joint venture between Littleton and Englewood that serves about 108 square miles and multiple connector districts. The five-year capital plan presented follows a master-plan update completed in 2024 and lists projects focused on nutrient and contaminant removal and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure.
Peter said the most expensive near-term potential project is full-scale cooling towers to address temperature limits in effluent that the state tied to protections for an endangered fish (the Johnny Darter) under Colorado Regulation 31. He said staff are working with regulators and other regional utilities to find alternatives to cooling towers because those systems shift the compliance issue to energy use and air emissions and represent a high capital and operating cost. The plan shows a pivot in funding needs around 2030 when annual capital spending could rise from roughly $15–16 million per year to more than $30 million per year to replace major buildings such as the Headworks Building.
Peter described an active pilot program that tests advanced biological processes (for example, partially denitrifying anammox, PDNA) and partnerships with universities and national labs to trial technologies that could reduce chemical inputs and produce renewable biogas. He said one pilot reduced methanol needs by offsetting carbon requirements in biological treatment and that Englewood's estimated five-year share of South Platte Renew capital needs is about $50 million of the roughly $100 million five-year total.
Board members asked about regulatory uncertainty — including PFAS and biosolids — and Peter said some regulatory items are clear (Regulation 31) while others remain uncertain and are being monitored. The presentation was informational; the capital figures will feed regional budgeting and Englewood's 2026 CIP work.
