ENVIRONMENTAL  PROTECTION AGENCY
              OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
                      REPORT ON
             EFFECTS OF WASTE DISCHARGES
                 WATER QUALITY OF THE
        CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH  PLATTE RIVERS
                    GREELEY AREA
NATIONAL FIELD INVESTIGATIONS CENTER-DENVER
                        AND
          REGION VIII DENVER, COLORADO
                      JUNE 1972
                                            tlEAl

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                                  831 R720O2
      ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
          OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
        EFFECTS OF WASTE DISCHARGES
                   ON
           WATER QUALITY OF THE
   CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS
             GREELEY, COLORADO
National Field Investigations Center - Denver
                    and
                Region VIII
             Denver,  Colorado

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                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                           "v


                         Title                            Page

GLOSSARY OF TERMS	11

LIST OF TABLES	ill

LIST OF FIGURES	ill

I.    INTRODUCTION	   1

II.   SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 	   2

III.  RECOMMENDATIONS 	   5

IV.   APPLICABLE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS 	   7
      A.  Water Quality Standards 	   7
      B.  Enforcement Conference Requirements 	   8
               First Session	   8
               Second Session 	   8
               Reconvened Second Session	   9

V.    WASTE SOURCES	10
      A.  Greeley Wastewater Treatment Plant	10
      B.  Great Western Sugar Mill	12
      C.  Farr Farms Feedlot of Greeley	  16
      D.  Monfort of Colorado	16

VI.   STREAM SURVEYS	17
      A.  South Platte River Basin Project Studies. ...  17
      B.  Water Quality Survey, September 13-15, 1971 .  .  18
      C.  Water Quality Survey, December 6, 7, and
           13-15, 1971	22

VII.  WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MEASURES	27

REFERENCES	29

APPENDIX A - COLORADO WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

APPENDIX B - WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES RECOMMENDED TO
             THE CONFERENCE AS A RESULT OF STUDIES
             CONDUCTED BY THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
             BASIN PROJECT

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                     GLOSSARY OF TERMS




BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 5-Day

COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand

DO  - Dissolved Oxygen

NH--N - Ammonia Nitrogen

TOC - Total Organic Carbon

SS  - Suspended Solids



RM  - river mileage



cfs - flow rate given in cubic feet per second

gpm - flow rate given in gallons per minute

mgd - flow rate given in million gallons per day

mg/1 - concentration given in milligrams per liter

ymhos/cm - unit of specific conductance (mho — the inverse
           of the standard unit of electrical resistance, the
           ohm) measured over a 1-centimeter distance, conven-
           ventionally made at 25°C.
                           ii

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                            LIST OF TABLES
Table No.
                Title

Summary of Field Measurements and
Chemical and Bacteriological Analyses,
Great Western Sugar Mill, Greeley,
Colorado, December 12-15, 1971

Summary of Permit Application Data
for Great Western Sugar Mill, Greeley,
Colorado, October to December 1971

Summary of Field Measurements and
Analytical Results at Selected Stations,
Cache la Poudre and South Platte Rivers,
September 13-16, 1971

Results of Bacteriological Analyses at
Selected Stations Cache la Poudre and
South Platte Rivers, September 13-15, 1971

Summary of Field Measurements and
Analytical Results at Selected Stations,
Cache la Poudre and South Platte Rivers,
December 6-7, 13-15, 1971

Results of Bacteriological Analyses at
Selected Stations, Cache la Poudre and
South Platte Rivers, December 6, 7,
and 13-15, 1971
                                                                   15
                                                                   20
                                                                   21
                                                                   25
                           LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No.

   1
                                         Follows Page
Location Map, Water Quality Investiga-
tions in the Cache la Poudre River,           Inside
September-December 1971                     back cover

Aerial view of Great Western Waste                15
Effluent (Serpentine Ditch) at Point
of Discharge to the Cache la Poudre River

Aerial View of the Confluence of the              15
South Platte and Cache la Poudre Rivers
                                  ill

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                          I.  INTRODUCTION








     The Great Western Sugar Company (subsidiary of the Great Western




United Corporation) operates a sugar beet processing mill at Greeley,




Colorado, on the Cache la Poudre River just upstream of its confluence




with the South Platte River.  Inadequately treated industrial wastes




from this mill are discharged to the Cache la Poudre River.  In addition




to these discharges, a large volume of inadequately treated municipal




wastes is discharged immediately upstream of the Great Western mill.




     Stream surveys were conducted by the National Field Investigations




Center - Denver  (EPA) during the months of September and December 1971,




to define conditions in the receiving waters prior to and during the




sugar beet processing season (campaign) [Figure 1, inside back cover].




Waste treatment practices were evaluated at both the Great Western mill




and the Greeley wastewater treatment plant.  The latter was also evaluated




in January 1972.




     This report summarizes the results of these investigations.  Observed




water quality conditions are compared to the applicable water quality




regulations, and violations of water quality standards are defined.  Water




quality conditions also are compared with conditions existing during




studies conducted by the South Platte River Basin Project in 1963-66.




The recommendations include remedial measures that are necessary to abate




existing pollution.

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                    II.  SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS








     There has been some reduction in the waste loads discharged to the




Cache la Poudre River when compared with the findings of the South Platte




River Basin Project studies in 1964-65.  This has resulted from the




closure of the Great Western mill at Windsor and improved treatment at




the Great Western mill in Eaton which discharges to Eaton Draw.  However,




water quality investigations conducted during September and December,




1971, showed that the receiving waters were still being severely degraded




by waste discharges from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant and the




Great Western mill at Greeley, Colorado.  Violations of Sections B and D




of the Basic Water Quality Standards are occurring.




     The December 13 through 15, (1971) survey findings indicated that




the Great Western mill was discharging a BOD load of about 25,000 Ib




per day to the Cache la Poudre River (10.7 Ib of BOD per ton of sliced beets)




This greatly exceeds the effluent limits (i.e., 0.5 Ib of BOD per ton)




attainable by recommended treatment practices for the sugar beet industry.




At this effluent limit, the Great Western mill discharge would contain a




BOD load of no more than 1,165 Ib per day based on 1971-72 campaign figures.




     The degree of treatment provided by the serpentine shaped ditch is




negligible—about 10 percent, which is no better than that observed during




the 1963-64 campaign.  Effluent from the ditch is black and septic.  The




fecal coliform density (log mean) was 210,000/100 ml during the survey.




Waste abatement requirements of the State of Colorado are not being met

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at the Great Western mill in Greeley.  Moreover, neither the compliance




date established in the State implementation plan (December 31, 1970),




nor the date recommended by the Conferees (June 30, 1971) at the reconvened




second session of the South Platte Conference has been met.




     Compounding the pollution problems in the Cache la Poudre River is




the Greeley waste treatment plant that is grossly overloaded organically




and discharges from 10,000 to 22,000 Ib BOD per day.  Wastes from the




Monfort of Colorado packing plant of approximately 16,000 Ib BOD per day




exceed the design capacity.  A new facility to treat the Monfort wastes




and the waste activated sludge from the existing plant will be constructed




about five miles east of Greeley.  This facility is to produce an effluent




containing no more than 20 mg/1 and will reduce the present BOD load to




the existing plant by greater than 50 percent.  With this reduction it




should be possible for the effluent limits of 25 mg/1 BOD and suspended




solids to be met.




     An examination of the flow records (1951-70) for the Cache la Poudre




River at KM 2.9 shows that the 7-day, 10-year low flow is 6 cfs.  In 16




of 20 years, the 7-day low flow occurred in either May, June or July.




Upstream at RM 4.6 flow is diverted for irrigation generally from May




through mid-October.  The diversion flow records for the same 7-day periods




were used to estimate flow conditions in the Cache la Poudre River just




downstream from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant.  On this basis,




the 7-day, 10-year flow was about 39 cfs.  Further examination of the




records during the period October to February shows that the 7-day, 10-year

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low flow at RM 2.9 is 12 cfs.  Seventeen of the 7-day, low-flow periods



occurred in October.  Allowing for the diversions, the 7-day, 10-year



low flow just downstream from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant was



also about 30 cfs.  Unless treatment at the Greeley plant is upgraded



to produce an effluent containing not more than 25 mg/1 BOD (maximum



1700 Ib at design flow of 8 ragd), the present DO standards of 3.0 mg/1



cannot be met under these flow conditions.



     Water quality conditions observed upstream of the Greeley and Great



Western discharges were indicative of a moderately polluted stream resulting



from irrigation drainage, possible residual wastes from upstream dis-



charges, and agricultural activities along the river.  Violations of the



bacterial standards for a warm-water fishery were indicated at 6th Avenue



during the September 1971 survey.  A flow of no less than 15 cfs in the



Cache la Poudre from upstream of the Greeley wastewater treatment plant



downstream to the point of the Great Western discharge is considered



necessary to maintain a minimum dissolved oxygen level of 3.0 mg/1.

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                        Ill.  RECOMMENDATIONS








     In order to achieve abatement of pollution of the Cache la Poudre




and South Platte Rivers resulting from the discharges of inadequately




treated wastes, it is recommended that:




     1.  The combined waste discharges from the Great Western mill at




Greeley contain not greater than 0.5 Ib each of BOD and suspended solids




per ton of beets sliced or the total load of each not exceed 1,165 Ib per




day (based on 1971-72 campaign figures), whichever is less.




     2.  The number of fecal collform organisms in the combined discharges




not exceed 75 x 10  organisms per ton of beets sliced or density of




1,000/100 ml, whichever is less.




     3.  The effluent from the existing wastewater treatment plant at




Greeley contain not greater than 25 mg/1 each of BOD and suspended solids




with the maximum BOD and suspended solids load not to exceed 1700 Ib per




day each at design flow.




     4.  The City of Greeley proceed with the proposed construction of  a




new plant to treat the Monfort Packing plant wastes and the waste activated




sludge from the existing plant with the effluent from the new system to




contain not greater than 25 mg/1 each of BOD and suspended solids.




     5.  The Greeley wastewater treatment effluents be disinfected in




accordance with applicable criteria.

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     6.  Stream flows not less than 15 cfs be maintained in the Cache la




Poudre upstream from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant.  Flow past




the irrigation diversion at KM 4.6 shall also be 15 cfs which will require




limitations of diversion during drought periods.

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             IV.  APPLICABLE WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENTS








A.  WATER QUALITY STANDARDS




     Water quality standards applicable to the South Platte River and  its




tributaries in Colorado were established in June 1967 by the Colorado




Water Pollution Control Commission.—   These standards were subsequently




revised and fully approved as Federal standards.  They consist of three




components:  1) stream classifications that designate water uses to be




protected; 2) water quality criteria that specify water quality conditions




which must be maintained; and 3) an implementation plan that establishes




time schedules for providing adequate treatment or control facilities  for




all sources of pollution.




     The South Platte River from the Denver area (RM 313.4) downstream




to the Nebraska state line is classified for industrial and agricultural




water uses (Class C and D.).  From near Fort Collins (RM 55.0) downstream




to Second Avenue in Greeley (RM 5.5) the Cache la Poudre River is classified




as a warm water fishery, and for industrial and irrigational uses (Classes




B_, C, and D.).  Downstream to the mouth, the classification is C and




D  [water quality criteria applicable to the above classifications can be




found in Appendix A].  An implementation schedule was established that




required the Great Western mill at Greeley to be in compliance with the




water quality standards by December 31, 1970.

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B.  ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE REQUIREMENTS




First Session




     In 1963, the First Session of the Conference in the Matter of Pollution




of the South Platte River Basin in the State of Colorado was called under




provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act by the U. S. Depart-




ment of Health, Education, and Welfare at the request of the Colorado




Governor, John Love.  To comply with the recommendations of the First




Session, the South Platte River Basin Project of the Department of Health,




Education, and Welfare was established.  The Project was requested to




undertake a study to determine legitimate water uses and locate the




sources of pollution having an adverse effect on those uses; determine




through field investigations the physical, chemical, and biological res-




ponses of the South Platte River to pollution and evaluate the sources of




pollution with respect to the conditions in the River; and to compute




the waste load reductions necessary to obtain desired water quality and




recommend the water quality control measures needed to effect the desired




waste load reductions.




Second Session




     The Second Session of the Conference, held in April 1966, was primarily




devoted to the presentation of the results of the studies.  Water quality




objectives for the South Platte and Cache la Poudre Rivers and waste




treatment requirements for the Great Western sugar mill at Greeley were




included [Appendix B].  These recommendations called for waste discharges




from the Greeley mill to be reduced to 1,100 Ib per day each of BOD and




suspended solids.

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     The Conference adjourned without formulating specific pollution


abatement recommendations in order to allow the new Colorado Water


Pollution Control Commission sufficient time to study and evaluate the


report of the Project and to develop a program and time schedule for


implementation of remedial measures.


Reconvened Second Session


     In November 1966 the Conferees recommended that the final compliance


date for providing adequate treatment of all waste discharges in the Basin


be extended from the recommended date of September 30, 1968, to


June 30, 1971.


     "All discharges into the South Platte River Basin shall have


     adequate remedial or control facilities in full operation


     by June 30, 1971, so as to comply with water quality standards


     established by the Colorado Water Pollution Control Commission

                                                   2/
     as approved by the Secretary of the Interior."—


     The Conferees did not adopt the water quality objectives or waste


treatment requirements recommended by the Project although a number of


these recommendations were subsequently incorporated in the Colorado


Water Quality Standards.

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                                                                       10
                          V.  WASTE SOURCES





     Municipal and industrial waste source investigations were conducted


in the Greeley area during September and December 1971 and in January


1972.  Data on water pollution control practices were obtained through


in-plant surveys, review of the Refuse Act permit applications, and


through contact with both Company representatives and wastewater treatment


plant operators.



A.  GREELEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT


     This treatment system consists of conventional activated sludge with


primary clarification, separate sludge digestion, and chlorination.  The


system is designed for 8.0 mgd and an organic loading of 13,000 Ib of


BOD per day.  In addition to serving a population of more than 53,000


persons, the facility treats the waste from the Monfort of Colorado packing


plant.  The Greeley treatment plant discharges directly to the Cache la


Poudre River (RM 5.3).  Previous studies, by the Project in 1966, showed


that this treatment plant was providing greater than 90 percent BOD removal,


The Monfort plant was not connected to the Greeley treatment plant at


that time.

                                                                *
     The more recent in-plant surveys, conducted by NFIC-Denver,  indicate


that the plant is grossly overloaded organically.  The Monfort plant


contributed flows of 1.6 to 1.8 mgd, with an average BOD of approximately


1,200 mg/1.  This constitutes a BOD load of about 16,000 Ib/day, which
* Composite samples (24-hour) were collected of the influent and effluent
  [Figure 1-Statlon E].

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                                                                       11
is in excess of the wastewater treatment plant design capacity.  The



influent BOD to the Greeley plant (combined Monfort and domestic wastes)



is generally in excess of 500 mg/1, with flows averaging about 7.0 mgd.



The BOD removal efficiency varies from 25 to 60 percent.  The BOD loads



discharged ranged from approximately 10,000 to 22,000 Ib per day.



     In addition to the activated sludge plant, there is a trickling fil-



ter plant (two filters in parallel) that became inoperative after the



activated sludge plant was constructed.  Attempts are being made to use



the trickling filter plant for treatment of the Monfort wastes ahead of



the activated sludge system.  However, even with the treatment provided



by the filters, the total load placed on the activated sludge system will



still be above the design capacity.



     Disinfection at the Greeley plant is inadequate.  Little or no



chlorine residual was detected in the effluent during the in-plant surveys.



For example, during the January 1972 survey, the log mean total- and



fecal-coliform bacteria densities were 12,000,000 and 1,300,000/100 ml,


                                   3/
respectively.  Applicable criteria,—  which require that 1 mg/1 chlorine



residual be maintained after 15 minutes detention time at peak hourly



flow, were not being met.



     To alleviate the overloaded condition the City of Greeley, with the



assistance of an EPA grant, will construct a new treatment facility that



will be located about five miles east of Greeley and one mile north of



Colorado Highway 263.  This plant (2.8 mgd design capacity) will consist



of four anaerobic lagoons in parallel, followed by two aerated lagoons,



clarification, and two polishing ponds in series and will treat Monfort



wastes and the waste activated sludge from the existing plant.

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                                                                        12
B.  GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL

     This mill is a straight-house operation processing an average of

2,330 tons of beets per day.  Water is obtained from the Cache la Poudre

River (approximately 5 mgd), City of Greeley (approximately 0.7 mgd),

and from wells.  A city storm sewer also discharges to the mill water

supply pond.  If necessary, barometric condenser waters can be released

to the pond.

     The Greeley mill has three known discharges:  1) the effluent (001)

from the lone serpentine shaped ditch at RM 4.3 [Figure 1-Station A];

2) the effluent (002) containing boiler blowdown and the ashes and un-

burned coal and coke residues originating from the boilers and lime kiln

at RM 5.25  [Figure 1-Statlon C]; and 3) the occasional overflow from

the water supply pond (003) at approximately RM 5.27 [not shown on

Figure 1].

     The lime muds that constitute another source of waste are pumped to

an 8-to-10-acre holding basin located on the east side of the Cache la

Poudre River.  According to Company officials, there is no discharge from

the holding pond.

     The influent to this serpentine shaped ditch is composed of waste

flume waters, excess condensates, leaks, spills, boilouts, and other mis-

cellaneous wastes.  The ditch is approximately 1.25 miles in length and

is reported to vary from 14 to 20 ft in width and from 3 to 7 ft in water

depth.  Results of an in-plant survey [Table 1] during December 13 to

15, 1971, showed that the ditch provided about 15 percent BOD removal.
  Numbers refer to Refuse Act Permit designations of the Great Western
  Sugar Company.

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                                                                          TABLE 1
                                           SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES
                                                        GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, GREELEY, COLORADO
                                                                    December 12-15, 1971

Map*/
Key
B



A




C






D



FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS
Flow Temp. Cond. . BOD TOC
Station (mgd) pH (°C) (ymhos/cm) (mg/1) (mg/1)
Description Range avg Range Range Range avg avg
Influent 8.6-8.8 25-30 1,200-1,350 726 590
to
serpentine
ditch
Effluent 5.1-A.6 4.9 6.7-7.4 20-24 1,500-1,800 615 580
from
serpentine
ditch
(RM 4.3)
Effluent 0.08^8. 1-10. 2 5-46 1,650-2,150 1,230 1,190
from ash
disposal
and boiler
blowdown
system
(RM 5.25)
Water 7.7-7.9 0-1 1,400-1,450 9 5
supply
intake
from pond
BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptococci
(MF Count/100 ml) (MF Count/100 ml)
Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum




780,000 210,000 130,000 11,000,000 > 3,500,000 > 1,000,000




650,000 > 150,000 > 60,000 12,000,000 > 3,100,000 > 100,000










a/ See Figure 1.
b_/ Company data for months of October-December 1971.

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                                                                       14
The effluent (002) from the boiler and lime kiln area had an extremely

high BOD (1,230 mg/1) compared to the data submitted by the Company  [Table

2].  Wastewaters other than those from the boilers and lime kiln area

were apparently entering the discharge line.  The Company data indicate

that the mill was discharging an average of 9.4 Ib BOD per ton of beets

processed.  The December survey results show that 10.7 Ib BOD per ton of

beets were discharged.

     An aerial reconnaissance was conducted of the Cache la Poudre River

on December 16, 1971, downstream from its confluence with the South Platte

River to upstream of the Monfort of Colorado feedlots.  At the point of

discharge from the ditch [Figure 2] the black effluent, which has greater

density than the receiving waters, flows below the stream surface for a

short distance downstream and subsequently mixes.  After the effluent

was dispersed, the Cache la Poudre River appeared black downstream to the

confluence with the South Platte River [Figure 3].  The inflow clinging

to the bank finally began to disperse about 150 yards downstream.
                                                             4/
     Wastewater treatment has not improved since January 1964—  when

studies by the South Platte River Basin Project indicated BOD removals of
                               *
about 10 percent.  The net load  from the mill approximated 13 Ib BOD per

ton of beets processed at that time.  Treatment at this mill should be in

accord with base-level treatment practices for the sugar beet industry,

i.e., 0.5 Ib of BOD per ton of beets processed.
* The BOD load in the river water supply was subtracted from the final
  effluent BOD.  The mill processed an average of 2,200 tons of beets
  during the 1963-64 campaign.

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Photographs taken during the course of this investigation
are on file in the Denver, Colorado, office of the
National Field Investigations Center.
Figure 2
     Aerial  view of Great Western  waste  effluent
     (serpentine ditch)  at point of discharge to
     the Cache la Poudre River.   (Arrows indicate
     direction of flow.)

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 Photographs  taken  during  the  course  of  this  investigation
 are on  file  in the Denver,  Colorado, office  of  the
 National  Field Investigations Center.
Figure 3
     Aerial  view of the confluence of the South Platte
     and Cache la Poudre Rivers.   (Arrows indicate
     direction of flow.)

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                                                                       16






C.  FARR FARMS FEEDLOT OF GREELEY




     Approximately 15,000 head of cattle are fed at Farr Farms.  In




1964-66 the feedlots were drained by underground pipes and this drainage




along with surface runoff was discharged directly to the Cache la Poudre




River.  It was recommended at the Second Session of the Conference that




feedlot owners design and construct berms or suitable drainage facilities




to divert the surface runoff to lined lagoons or treat these wastes by




equivalent means in order to protect against pollution of both surface




and ground water.




     Present treatment facilities consist of holding ponds with the




effluent either used for irrigation or diverted to evaporation lagoons.




During the surveys, conducted in September and December 1971, there was




no apparent contamination from these feedlots.





D.  MONFORT OF COLORADO



     This company operates feedlots and a packing plant.  Feedlots have a




total capacity for feeding 112,000 head of cattle and are located north




of Greeley and at Evans, Colorado.  Water pollution control recommendations




presented at the April 1966 session of the Conference were the same as




those for the Farr Farm feedlots.  The waste treatment facilities for  the




Monfort feedlots consist of holding ponds with the effluent used for irriga-




tion of crops.  At the packing plant, cooling water and the defrost water




are discharged directly to the Cache la Poudre River.  As stated previously,




the packing house wastes are sent to the Greeley wastewater treatment  plant.

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                                                                        17
                         VI.  STREAM SURVEYS



A.  SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN PROJECT STUDIES

     Studies, conducted during September 7 to 12, 1965,—  showed that the

Cache la Poudre River became degraded as it coursed through Greeley.

The BOD at Spanish Colony (RM 9.4) was 3.5 mg/1 and increased to approxi-

mately 5.0 mg/1 at a station just upstream (RM 5.7) of the Greeley waste-

water treatment plant.  Eaton Draw (RM 6.9) contained 10.9 mg/1 BOD

at a flow of 1.3 cfs.  Downstream (RM 5.2) from the Greeley plant the

BOD increased to 28.0 mg/1.  Near the mouth (RM 2.9) the BOD had decreased

to 7.1 mg/1.  Flows during 1965 were as follows:

         RM 9.5 - Spanish Colony                  23 cfs
         RM 5.7 - Upstream of Greeley Wastewater
                  Treatment Plant                 55 cfs
         RM 5.2 - Downstream from Greeley Waste-
                  water Treatment Plant           75 cfs
         RM 2.9 - Near mouth                      40 cfs

Flow variations were due to irrigation return drains, seepage, and waste

discharges.  Downstream from RM 5.2, a portion of the flow was diverted

for irrigation.

     Water quality of the Cache la Poudre River, during the 1965 survey,

was generally good in the upper reach, i.e., upstream of RM 46.0, with

total- and fecal-coliform bacteria densities averaging 250 and 74 MPN/100 ml,

respectively.  Downstream from RM 46.0, the water quality deteriorated.

The levels of total and fecal coliform bacteria (2,100,000 and 400,000

MPN/100 ml, respectively) downstream from the Greeley plant were two

orders of magnitude greater than those at the station just upstream, thus

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                                                                        18
confirming that disinfection practices at the plant were ineffective.




     The effects of the Great Western mill discharges at Greeley were




measured during the 1963-64 sugar beet campaign.  The quality of the




Cache la Poudre River water in the Greeley area was degraded by residual




wastes from the Great Western mills at Windsor and Eaton, and the Monfort




packing plant.  Through Greeley, the BOD increased from approximately




200 mg/1 to 350 mg/1 (RM 9.4 and RM 2.9, respectively).  The effluent




from the Great Western mill in Greeley contained 27 mg/1 sulfides.




During January 1964, it was reported,—  the lower portion of the Cache




la Poudre River represented the most severe case of surface water pollution




existing in the entire South Platte River Basin.  Since the 1964-66 survey,




the Great Western plant at Windsor has closed; the Great Western mill




at Eaton has constructed pollution control facilities; and the Monfort




plant presently diverts all wastes to the Greeley sewage treatment plant.




The major waste discharges remaining are those from the Greeley wastewater




treatment plant and the Great Western mill at Greeley.





B.  WATER QUALITY SURVEY. SEPTEMBER 13-15, 1971




     During the survey, more than 50 miles (RM 53.6 to the mouth) of the




Cache la Poudre River were studied.  Of primary interest is the reach




extending from Spanish Colony (RM 9.4) downstream to the confluence with




the South Platte River.  As mentioned earlier, the Cache la Poudre River




has been classified as B , C, and D  waters from RM 55.0 to RM 5.5, and




C and D.  downstream to the mouth.




     The DO concentration at Spanish Colony neared or exceeded saturation

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                                                                        19
level [Table 3].  The log mean fecal coliform density of 640/100 ml



[Table 4] was within the standard  (1,000/100 ml) established  for a warm-



water fishery.



     The river  at 6th Avenue (RM 6.3) showed the effects of several



Irrigation drains including Eaton  Draw.  Dissolved oxygen concentrations



were generally  below saturation levels but well above the DO  standard



of 5.0 mg/1.  At this station the  log mean fecal coliform density



(3,200/100 ml)  was a violation of  the standards.



     Effects of the Greeley wastewater treatment plant  (RM 5.3) were evi-



dent at RM 5.2  and 0.5.  At these  stations the DO concentrations were



below saturation levels (32 to 84  percent) all the time with  the dissolv-



ed oxygen standard of 3.0 mg/1 being violated at RM 0.5.  Densities of



fecal coliform  bacteria at these stations exceeded 2,000/100  ml (log mean)



but were less than the levels observed at 6th Avenue.  This is contra-



dictory to what would be expected  because adequate disinfection was



seldom accomplished during the in-plant evaluations of  the Greeley



wastewater treatment plant.  As previously discussed, during  the January



1972 in-plant survey, the fecal-coliform bacteria levels in the effluent



exceeded 1,000,000/100 ml.



     The Cache  la Poudre River was virtually an open sewer downstream



from the Greeley discharge.  The murky water sinelied of sewage, and rich



organic sludge  beds blanketed most of the stream bottom.  Such sludge



beds constitute a violation of Sections B and D of the Basic  Water Quality


                                                                      2
Standards [Appendix A].  Sludgeworms were profuse in number (22,810/ft )

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                                                                           TABLE 3
                                          SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS AT SELECTED STATIONS
                                                           CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS
                                         	September 13-16. 1971	
Map
No.
        Station Description
Flow      pH    ,    Cond.
cfs      S.U.      pmhos/cm
avg	Range	Range
          Dissolved Oxygen      Total             Total     Susp.
Temp.                Percent    Alkal.     BOD     Solids    Solids    TOC     Turbid.
 °C        mg/1       Sat.      mg/1      mg/1     mg/1      mg/1     mg/1    J.T.U.
Range	Range	Range	avg	avg	avg	avg	avg	avg
      South Platte River at Kersey,
      Colorado   (RM 246.5)

      Cache la Poudre ,1ust upstream
      of mouth at Davis Ranch
      (RM 249.0/0.5)

      South Platte River one mile
      upstream of mouth of Cache
      la Poudre River   (RM 250.6)

      Cache la Poudre River downstream
      from Greeley wastewater treat-
      ment facility  (RM 249.0/5.2)

      Cache la Poudre River at 6th
      Avenue in Greeley  (RM 249.0/6.3)

      Eaton Draw near mouth
      (RM 249.0/6.9/0.1)

      Cache la Poudre River at Spanish
      Colony at 23rd Avenue Bridge
      (RM 249.0/9.4)

      Irrigation return just down-
      stream from 23rd Avenue Bridge
      (RM 249.0/9.35/0.1)
                                        440     8.1-8.2    1600-1850    11-15     7.2-8.2
 90
        7.7-7.8    1900-2000    11-15     2.7-6.1
                                                                                              71-78
                                                      32-68
35CT    8.1-8.2    1800-2000    11-15     6.9-8.5     75-81
 75~    7.7-8.1    1900-2600    12-14   .  3.9-6.8     43-84
                                                                                                         243
                                                                 254
                                                                 238
                                                                 251
                                                                                                                   4.1     1285
                                                                          10.1     1440
                                           1.8     1255
                                                                          27
 40     7.6-8.1    1750-2100    11-14     8.7-13.9    96-155     275       1.9
                                                                                   1473
 50-    7.9-8.2    2000-2500    11-14     6.9-8.5     75-100     257       3.4     1355


 1.5      8.5^    1650-1900    11-14     7.6-9.3     85-101     201      10.5
                                                   1367


                                                   1785
 7.5    7.9-8.1    1350-2600    10-12     8.6-9.4     96-103     206       7.0     1825
                                                                                                                                      48
                                                                                              35
                                                              45
                                                                                              78
                                                                                              50
100
                                                                                            < 10
                                                             310
                                                                                                                                               48
                                                                                                                                                        17
                                                                                                                12
                                                                                16
                                                                                                                31
                                                                                                                20
                                                                       10       42
                                                                                                               121
 a/ Estimated values.
 b_/ All pH values were  the same for this station.

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                                                                      TABLE 4
                                             RESULTS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES AT SELECTED STATIONS
                                                      CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS
                                            	September 13-15. 1971	
Map
No.
         Total Coliform
         MF Count/100 ml
          Station Description
 Maximum	Log Mean    Minimum
                                    Fecal Coliform
                                    MF Count/100 ml
                            Maximum    Log  Mean   Minimum
                                                            Fecal  Streptococci
                                                              MF Count/100 ml
                                                      Maximum	Log Mean    Minimum
     South Platte River at
     Colorado 37 Bridge north
     of Kersey at USGS gage.
     (RM 246.5)

     Cache la Poudre River just
     upstream of mouth, at
     Davis Ranch.(RM 249.0/0.5)

     South Platte River at
     highway bridge 1 mile
     upstream of mouth of
     Cache la Poudre River.
     (RM 250.6)

     Cache la Poudre River
     downstream from Greeley
     wastewater treatment plant
     at highway bridge.
     (RM 249.0/5.2)

     Cache la Poudre River at
     6th Ave. bridge in Greeley.
     (RM 249.0/6.3)

     Cache la Poudre River at
     23rd Ave. bridge in
     Greeley. (RM 249.0)
  90,000     33,000      13,000
   5,200
27,000
  25,000     18,000
1,200
            15,000
> 80,000   > 38,000       9,000
  37,000     20,000       9,000
  11,000      9,600       8,000
                              8,200      2,000
3,300      2,100
                   900
                                890
             450
                              5,400      2,500
                              7,300      3,200
                              640
                                          840
1,400
                                                       220
                                          780
                                                       650
                         520
                                                        11,000       2,700
                 3,400      1,100
                                                                                                                                               880
7,200      2,600       1,000
                 3,400      2,400       1,300
                                       32,000     20,000      12,000
                                                        57,000      16,000        1,500
                                                                                                            440

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                                                                       22
because of the available food and the lack of competition in their



sludge bed habitat.  Fish populations near the mouth of the Cache la



Poudre consisted of forage species; no game fish were found.



     Water quality conditions were measured in the South Platte River



upstream and downstream from the confluence of the Cache la Poudre River.



Upstream, the biological quality of the river was moderately degraded.



Because the sand substrate was poor habitat, only six kinds of benthic


                                     2
invertebrates with a density of 74/ft  inhabitated this reach.  Of these,



approximately equal portions were tolerant and sensitive forms.  Fish



populations in this reach consisted entirely of non-game species, such



as longnose suckers, minnows, and carp.



     At Kersey, the South Platte River became severely polluted as a



result of the Cache la Poudre inflow.  The numbers of coliform bacteria



in the water were excessive; total coliforms numbered 33,000/100 ml and



fecal coliforms numbered 2,000/100 ml.  Because of a shifting sand sub-

                                              2
strate the density of organisms was only 62/ft .  Pollution-tolerant



sludgeworms increased to 37 percent of the population and intolerant



forms decreased to 3 percent.



     In summary, the water quality conditions observed in the study reach



were similar to those observed during the summary of 1965.




C.  WATER QUALITY SURVEY, DECEMBER 6. 7 AND 13 TO 15. 1971



     The Cache la Poudre River was studied from RM 7.0 (upstream of Eaton



Draw) downstream to its confluence with the South Platte River in order



to determine the combined effects on water quality of the discharges from



the Great Western mill and the Greeley wastewater treatment plant.  Water

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                                                                            23
quality data were collected on the South Platte River upstream and down-


stream from the mouth of the Cache la Poudre River and at the mouth of


Eaton Draw.  Also determined were the waste loads discharged by the Greeley


wastewater treatment plant and the Great Western sugar-beet processing mill.


     Upstream of Eaton Draw, the Cache la Poudre River was moderately


degraded [Tables 5 and 6] because of residual wastes from upstream dis-


charges, Irrigation drainage, and agricultural activities.  Nutrients


were available in sufficient quantities to stimulate algal growths (3.8

                2
million cells/in ).  The bacteriological studies showed log mean  total


and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations of 1,800 and 150/100 ml,


respectively.  Organic enrichment also affected the benthos community.


Sludgeworms and facultative or pollution-tolerant fly larvae accounted


for 95 percent of the bottom animals collected.  Dissolved oxygen concen-


trations and coliform levels were well within the established standards.


     The quality of the Cache la Poudre River at 6th Avenue was similar


to that observed upstream of Eaton Draw.  Changes in the benthos  community


were limited primarily to a reduction in numbers because of better sub-


strate (more sand and less sludge).  The BOD levels had increased slightly


(5.0 mg/1 to 8.5 mg/1), attributable to inflows from Eaton Draw.  The DO


concentrations and fecal-coliform bacteria levels met the standards.


     Downstream from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant, the  Cache la


Poudre River was severely polluted.  The average BOD was 33 mg/1  (range


22 to 48 mg/1).  The Greeley plant (RM 5.3) was discharging more  than


10,000 Ib of BOD per day during the survey.  Fecal-coliform bacteria


densities (log mean) were 3,400/100 ml, or 15 times greater than  the level


observed at the 6th Avenue station.

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                                                       TABLE 5
                      SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS AT SELECTED STATIONS
                                      CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS
                      	December 6-7. 13-15. 1971	
Map
No.  Station Description
Flow
cfs
avg
 PH
Range
 Cond.
ymhos/cm
 Range
Temp.
 °C
Range
Dissolved Oxygen   Tnt..  Ayfli.  BOD     TOC
mg/1% Sat.     mg/1  '" mg/1    mg/1
Range	Range	Avg .• .   avg	avg
    South Platte River at
    Kersey, Colorado
    (RM 246.5)

    Cache la Poudre River
    near mouth at Davis
    Ranch (RM 249.0/0.5)
842    7.5-7.8    1300-1500
166    7.4-7.8    1400-1700
    South Platte River one  670
    mile upstream of        (est)
    mouth of Cache la
    Poudre River (RM 250.6)

    Cache la Poudre River   132
    downstream from Greeley (est)
    wastewater treatment
    facility (RM 249.0/5.2)
       7.4-7.8    1300-1500
       7.6-7.9    1050-1700
    Cache la Poudre River
    at 6th Avenue in
    Greeley (RM 249.0/6.3)

                       a/
    Eaton Draw at mouth—
    (RM 249.0/6.9/0.1)

    Cache la Poudre River
    upstream of Eaton
    Draw  (RM 249.0/7.0)
122    7.8-8.1
(est)
  i    7.8-8.3
115    7.5-8.0
          1000-1800



          1500-1850


          1300-1725
                          0-2.5
                        0.5-5.0
                          0-2
                          0.3.5
              0.0-2.5
                4-8
                0-2.5
                           7.7-9.1    64-79
                           5.1-7.1    48-63
                           8.9-10.0   74-86
                           8.2-9.6    72-81
            10.6-12.7   89-96
                                   254     21
                                   271     59
                                   244     12
                       247
                                           33
            10.6-12.1   89-108     253      8.5
             9.1-10.0   94-109     335     14
                                        94
                                       131
                                        89
                                       104
                                        83
                                        10
82
 a/ This station sampled during the period November 30-December 4, 1971.                                           £
 b_/ Flows recorded during the period December 6,7, and 13-15.  The average flows recorded at the time of sampling was
    22 cfs.

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                                                                      TABLE 6
                                             RESULTS OF BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES AT SELECTED STATIONS
                                                     CACHE LA POUDRE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS
                                            	December 6, 7. and 13-15. 1971	
Map
No.
         Total Coliform
         MF Count/100 ml
         Station Description
 Maximum    Log Mean    Minimum
          Fecal Coliform
          MF Count/100 ml
  Maximum    Log Mean    Minimum
                                Fecal Streptococci
                                  MF Count/100 ml
                          Maximum    Log Mean    Minimum
     South Platte River at
     Colorado 37 Bridge north
     of Kersey at USGS gage
     (RM 246.5)

     Cache la Poudre River just
     upstream of mouth, at
     Davis Ranch (RM 249.0/0.5)

     South Platte River at  .
     highway bridge 1 mile
     upstream from mouth of
     Cache la Poudre River
     (RM 250.6)

     Cache la Poudre River
     downstream from Greeley
     wastewater treatment
     plant at highway bridge
     (RM 249.0/5.2)

     Cache la Poudre River at
     6th Ave. bridge in Greeley
     (RM 249.0/6.3)

     Eaton Draw at mouth
     (RM 249.0/6.9/0.1)

     Cache la Poudre River
     upstream of the mouth
     of Eaton Draw
     (RM 249.0/7.0)
1,000,000  > 160,000     59,000
1,500,000  > 180,000     50,000
  960,000    140,000     48,000
1,400,000     47,000      4,900
    3,700      1,900
                            660
    3,800      1,800      1,100
   72,000      15,000      4,400
1,000,000      19,000      4,800
   36,000
      650
                                             720
      690
4,300
  150,000       3,400
                                                         220
                                                         500
                                                         150
890
                                                                    200
                                                                    120
                             360
              50
                          520,000      95,000     12,000
                        1,400,POO     420,000    260,000
33,000      11,000      4,800
                        1,500,000      19,000      2,600
                            3,900       1,900      1,100
                           18,000       6,800      2,900
               2,600       1,500
                                                                                                            600

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                                                                       26
     Severe pollution conditions continued to exist near the mouth as a




result of the discharge from the Great Western mill (total BOD load from




the Greeley plant and Great Western mill was about 35,000 Ib per day.




The density (log mean) of fecal coliforms had increased to 19,000/100 ml.




The river was murky and covered with slimes, primarily Sphaerotilus.  The




BOD ranged from 30-135 mg/1.  The DO concentrations varied from 48 to 63




percent of saturation, but were above the applicable criterion (3.0 mg/1).




     Comparison of water quality conditions upstream and downstream from




the Cache la Poudre River confluence showed that the Cache la Poudre




inflow degraded the South Platte River.  Bacterial contamination from




fecal coliforms increased nearly four times.  Dense growths of Sphaerotilus




developed.  Sludgeworms increased in numbers and replaced pollution-




sensitive insects in the South Platte River downstream from the Cache la




Poudre River confluence.




     In summary, the Cache la Poudre River upstream of Eaton Draw was




moderately degraded due to residual wastes from upstream discharges,




irrigation drainage, and agricultural activities.  The degraded condition




was sustained at RM 6.3 by the inflow from Eaton Draw.  Downstream from




the Greeley wastewater treatment plant, the Cache la Poudre River was




severely polluted.  At RM 0.5, this condition was sustained because of




the waste discharges from the Great Western mill.  The effects of this




pollution were evident in the South Platte River.

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                                                                        27
               VII.  WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MEASURES



     Low-flow conditions were examined for the Cache la Poudre River  at


the gaging station (RM 2.9) east of Greeley, Colorado, for the period


1951-70.  Based on these records, the 7-day, 10-year low flow is 6 cfs.


The records show that in 18 of 20 years, the 7-day low flow occurred


from May to September.  Flows at this station are affected by diversion


just upstream (RM 4.6).  The low-flow data from the gaging station and


the flow records of the diversion were examined for the same 7-day periods


and were used to determine flow at a point just downstream from the waste-


water treatment plant (RM 5.2).  The low flow for this station, with  this


method, was about 30 cfs, of which approximately 11 cfs was Greeley


wastewater.  In the past 20 years, the flows to the diversion ditch have


averaged 29 to 49 cfs during the irrigation season (late April to early


October) with no diversions on some days and up to 67 cfs diverted on others,


     In addition, low-flow conditions were examined for the period of

                       *
October 7 to January 31  at the gaging station.  The 7-day, 10-year low


flow was found to be about 12 cfs.  From 20 years of record, it was found


that the 7-day, low-flow period occurred 17 times in October.  Flows  at


the gaging station contain the effluent from the Great Western mill at


Greeley (about 10 cfs).  Thus, the flows at RM 5.2 were estimated by


adding the diversion flows, if any, to the gaging station flows and then


subtracting the Great Western flows.  Under these circumstances the low


flow at RM 5.2 (10 percent of the time) was about 30 cfs.
* The sugar-beet processing season  (campaign) generally  commences  the first
  part of October and ends sometime in January.

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                                                                       28
     Waste treatment requirements were calculated on both low-flow




conditions observed during October to February and on the maintenance




of a stream DO concentration of not less than 3.0 tag/1.  In order to




maintain this concentration it will be necessary that:




     1) the Great Western sugar-beet processing mill install treatment




        in order to obtain an effluent containing not more than 0.5 Ib




        each of BOD and suspended solids per ton of sliced beets (a




        maximum load of 1,165 Ib per day of each based on 1971-72




        campaign figures);




     2) the effluent from the Greeley wastewater treatment plant




        contain not more than 25 mg/1 each of BOD and suspended




        solids (maximum allowable discharge 1700 Ib per day at




        design flow); and




     3) the flows in the Cache la Poudre upstream of the Greeley




        wastewater treatment plant be maintained at not less than 15 cfs.




     Additional treatment facilities, as stated previously, will be con-




structed at a site about five miles east of Greeley.  It has been reported




that this system will produce an effluent containing a BOD of 20 mg/1 or




less and that the effluent will be used for irrigation or discharged to




a dry wash which empties into the South Platte River.  The new facility




is scheduled to be in operation by early 1973.  It will reduce the waste




loads to the present treatment plant by more than 50 percent.  This




should allow this plant to meet the effluent limits of 25 mg/1 each of




BOD and suspended solids.

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                                                                        29
                             REFERENCES
1.  Water Pollution Control Commission, Colorado Department of Health,
    Water Quality Standards and Stream Classifications, 1971.

2.  U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
    Administration, Proceedings, Conference in the Matter of Pollution
    of the South Platte River Basin in the State of Colorado, Second
    Session, Denver, Colorado, Reconvened November 10,  1966.

3.. Criteria Used in the Review of Wastewater Treatment Facilities,
    Colorado Department of Health, Denver, Colorado.
*
4.  PR-8, The Beet Sugar Industry - The Water Pollution Problem  and
    Status of Waste Abatement and Treatment, U. S. Department of the
    Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, South
    Platte River Basin Project, Denver, Colorado, June  1967.

5.  U. S. Department of the Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control
    Administration, South Platte River Basin Project, Water Quality,
    Middle Basin Tributary Streams, South Platte River  Basin, Summer
    1965.  PR-7, Denver, Colorado, December 1967.

6.  U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Federal  Water
    Pollution Control Administration, Report to the Second Session  of
    the Conference in the Matter of Pollution of the South Platte River
    Basin, South Platte River Basin Project, April 27,  1966.

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           APPENDIX A
COLORADO WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

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                                                                     A-l
                COLORADO WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

Waters of the State, the quality of which exceeds the limits set in these
standards, will be maintained at existing quality unless and until it can
be demonstrated to the State that a change in quality is justified to
provide necessary economic or social development.  In that case, the best
practicable degree of waste treatment to protect the current classifi-
cation of such waters will be required.   The appropriate Federal authority
will be provided with information, from time to time, required to discharge
his responsibilities under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as
amended.  (Adopted October 13, 1970.)
 I.  BASIC STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO ALL WATERS OF THE STATE;

     A.  All wastes capable of treatment or control prior to discharge
         into any waters of the State, shall receive secondary treatment
         with disinfection or its industrial waste equivalent, as deter-
         mined by the State Water Pollution Control Commission.   Lesser
         degrees of treatment or control may be permitted only where it
         can be demonstrated that the standards applicable to the classi-
         fied use of the water can be attained.  Greater degrees of
         treatment or control will be required where it can  be demonstrated
         that it is necessary to comply with the standards applicable to
         the classified use of the water.

     B.  Free from substances attributable to municipal, domestic, or
         industrial wastes, or other controllable sources that will
         either settle to form unsightly, putrescent, or odorous bottom
         deposits, or will interfere with the classified use of the water.

     C.  Free from unsightly floating debris, oil, grease, scum, and
         other floating material attributable to municipal,  domestic, or
         industrial wastes, or other controllable sources.

     D.  Free from materials attributable to municipal, domestic or
         industrial wastes, or other controllable sources that will produce
         objectionable odor, color, taste, or turbidity in the water, or
         objectionable aquatic life which may result in eutrophication or
         other conditions that interfere with the classified use of the .
         water.

     E.  Free from high temperatures, biocides, toxic, or other deleterious
         substances attributable to municipal, domestic, or  industrial
         wastes, or other controllable sources in levels, concentrations,
         or combinations sufficient to be harmful to human or animal life.

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                                                                     A-2
     F.  Radioactive materials attributable to municipal,  industrial, or
         other controllable sources will be minimum concentrations  that
         are physically and economically feasible to achieve.   In no
         case shall such materials in the stream exceed the limits  estab-
         lished in the current edition of the U.  S.  Public Health Service
         Drinking Water Standards or the limits approved by the Federal
         Radiation Council, or, in the absence of any limits specified
         by the U. S. Public Health Service or the Federal Radiation
         Council, 1/30 of the 168-hour-week values for other radioactive
         substances specified in the National Bureau of Standards Hand-
         book 69.

II.  SPECIFIC STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE OF COLORADO;

     Class B-2 - The following standards shall apply to waters  classified
                 for fish and wildlife (Warm Water Fishery):

         a.  Bacteria;  Wastes or substances from controllable  sources
             shall not be discharged into these waters in  amounts which
             will cause the number of organisms of the fecal coliform
             group, as determined by either multiple tube  fermentation or
             membrane filter techniques, to exceed a log mean of 1000 per
             100 milliliters or exceed 2000 per 100 milliliters in  more
             than 10 percent of the samples collected in any 30-day period.

         b.  Dissolved Oxygen;  In warm water fisheries, dissolved  oxygen
             content shall in no case go below 5 milligrams per liter.

         c.  pH;  The pH shall be maintained between 6.5 and 8.5.  No
             controllable pH change will be permitted which will inter-
             fere with fish and aquatic life.

         d.  Turbidity;  No turbidity shall exist in concentrations that
             will impair natural and developed fisheries.

         e.  Temperature;  In warm water fisheries the temperatures shall
             not exceed 90°F.   No controllable temperature change will be
             permitted which will interfere with spawning  and other aspects
             of fish life.

             Limits on temperature change have not been established due
             to lack of historical temperature data and lack of conclusive
             temperature change criteria for the aquatic biota  of waters
             of the state.

             An abrupt change in temperature must be avoided and the
             normal pattern of diurnal and seasonal changes must be
             preserved.  The maximum allowable temperature increase due
             to waste discharges in streams will be 5°F.

-------
                                                                A-3
    f.  Toxic Material:  Free from biocides,  toxic,  or other deleter-
        ious substances attributable to municipal,  domestic, or
        industrial wastes, or other controllable sources in levels,
        concentrations, or combinations sufficient  to be harmful to
        aquatic life.

    g.  Other Material;  Free from materials  attributable to munici-
        pal, domestic, or industrial wastes,  or other controllable
        sources that will produce off-flavor  in the flesh of fish.

Class C - The following standards shall apply to waters classified
          for industrial uses:

    a.  Dissolved Oxygen;  Dissolved oxygen content shall not go
        below 3 milligrams per liter.

    b.  pH;  The pH shall be maintained between 5.0 and 9.0.

    c.  Turbidity;  No turbidity shall exist  in concentrations that
        will interfere with established levels of treatment.

    d.  Temperature;  The temperature shall not exceed 90°F.

Class D-l - The following standards shall apply to  waters classified
            for irrigation:

    a.  Total Dissolved Solids (Salt) Concentration;  A time-weighted
        monthly mean at a monitoring station  which  exceeds the time-
        weighted monthly mean for a base period established by the
        Commission by more than two standard  deviations shall be
        subject to review by the Commission.

    b.  Sodium Adsorption Ratio;  A time-weighted monthly mean at a
        monitoring station which exceeds the  time-weighted monthly
        mean for a base period established by the Commission by more
        than two standard deviations shall be subject to review by
        the Commission.

    c.  Toxic Material;  Free from biocides,  toxic,  or other dele-
        terious substances attributable to municipal, domestic,
        industrial wastes, or other controllable sources in concen-
        trations or combinations which are harmful  to crop life.

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                       APPENDIX B
 WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES RECOMMENDED TO THE CONFERENCE
                     AS A RESULT OF
STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN PROJECT

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                                                                     B-l
     WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES RECOMMENDED TO THE CONFERENCE
                         AS A RESULT OF
    STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN PROJECT
1.  In the main stem of the South Platte River from just downstream from
    the discharge from the Great Western Sugar Company mill in Brighton,
    Colorado, to the Colorado-Nebraska state line, and in the Cache la
    Poudre River from Windsor, Colorado, to its confluence with the South
    Platte River:

    a.  Dissolved oxygen (DO) content be maintained at not less than
        A mg/1.

    b.  The 5-day 20°C BOD level not be allowed to exceed 15 mg/1.

    c.  The total and fecal coliform levels not be allowed to exceed
        5,000 and 1,000 bacteria per 100 ml, respectively.

2.  The sugar beet industry provide treatment of wastes so that the
    total 5-day BOD load discharged any given day in the total effluents
    entering basin streams or waterways shall not exceed the given value.
    Residual wastes may be discharged over an extended period of the year
    if necessary.  The limit set for the Greeley plant was 1,100 pounds
    of BOD per day.

3.  There be no settleable solids contained in the total effluents  and
    that suspended solids loads in these effluents not exceed the
   , numerical levels prescribed above for the 5-day BOD.

4.  Disinfection be provided for each waste discharge so that the receiv-
    ing stream or waterway directly below each mill shall not show an
    increase of more than 5,000 total coliform bacteria per 100 ml  and
    1,000 fecal coliform per 100 ml over the corresponding densities
    upstream of the mill discharge.

5.  Dissolved oxygen in the treated waste effluent shall not be less than
    2 mg/1 at any time to insure minimum dissolved oxygen concentrations
    of A mg/1 in the receiving streams or waterways.

6.  There be absence of grease, oil, floating solids, slime or sludge
    banks in the receiving streams or waterways as the result of waste
    discharges from the sugar beet mill.

7.  There be no disagreeable odors or other nuisances in the areas  outside
    of and immediately adjacent to the plant sites.

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8.   The waste abatement measures  given above  for  the  sugar beet  industry
    in the South Platte River Basin shall  be  completed by September  30,
    1968, to provide full capacity for total  plant wastes in  the 1968-69
    campaign and all subsequent campaigns.

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