OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
REPORT ON
WASTE DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS
FOR THE
CACHE LA POLDRE RIVER BASIN
PREPARED FOR
REFUSE ACT PERMIT PROGRAM
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF ENFORCEMENT
Report On
WASTE DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS
FOR THE
CACHE LA FOUDRE RIVER BASIN
Prepared For
Refuse Act Permit Program
Division of Field Investigations - Denver Center
Denver, Colorado
And
Region VIII
Denver, Colorado
January 197?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Title Page
LIST OF FIGURES iii
LIST OF TABLES iv
I OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE 1
II BASIN DESCRIPTION 2
III EXISTING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS ... 7
DESCRIPTION 7
I. Applicable Use Classi- 7
fications
II. Applicable Criteria . . 8
CLASS A 9
CLASS B-l 10
CLASS B-2 11
CLASS C 11
CLASS D-l 12
INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL
COMPLIANCE SCHEDULES 13
POSSIBLE UPGRADING 14
IV WASTE SOURCES 15
Municipal
1. Fort Collins
Wastewater Treatment Plant
No. 1 15
2. Fort Collins Wastewater
Treatment Plant No. 2 17
3. Greeley Wastewater
Treatment Plant .... 17
4. Windsor Wastewater
Treatment Plant .... 18
5. Eaton Wastewater
Treatment Plant .... 18
i
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Section Title Page
Industrial
1. Eastman Kodak Company
at Windsor 19
2. Farr Farms Feedlot
at Greeley 19
3. Monfort of Colorado . 20
4. Flatiron Sand and
Gravel Company at
Fort Collins, Colorado 20
5. Flatiron Sand and
Gravel Company at
Greeley, Colorado, and
Windsor, Colorado . . 21
6. Windsor Packing Company
at Windsor, Colorado . 21
7. Great Western Sugar Mill
at Eaton, Colorado . . 21
8. Great Western Sugar Mill
at Greeley, Colorado . 22
9. Lone Star Steel Company
at Fort Collins, Colorado 29
10. Fish Hatcheries ... 29
11. Water Treatment Plants 30
V WATER QUALITY
A. South Platte River Basin Project
Studies 31
B. Water Quality Survey
September 13-17, 1971 31
C* Water Quality Survey
December 6-7 and December 13-15,1971 41
VI EFFLUENT CRITERIA 48
A. Applicable Reference Guides ... 48
1. Beet Sugar Industry .... 48
2. Steel Industry 49
3. Fish Hatcheries 49
4. Water Treatment Plants ... 49
ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Section Title Page
B. Receiving Water Requirements . . . 49
VII PERMIT RECOMMENDATIONS 53
1. Water Treatment Plants 53
2. Flatiron Gravel Company,
Greeley-Windsor 53
3. Fish Hatcheries 54
4. Lone Star Cement Company,
Fort Collins 55
5. Great Western Sugar Company,
Eaton 56
6. Great Western Sugar Company,
Greeley 58
VIII ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS .... 6]
1. Discharges "Unreachable"
Under the Present Law ...... 61
2. Irrigation Reservoir Flushing . . 61
3. Seepage 62
4. -Pre-treatment 62
5. Industrial Expansion 63
REFERENCES 64
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Title Follows Page
1 M & I Waste Sources & Stream
Survey Stations for Cache La
Poudre Drainage Basin ....... 2
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LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Title Page
1 CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER BASIN
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
SAMPLING STATION IDENTIFICATION ... 3
1-A SEVEN-DAY LOW FLOW -
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER 1961-1970 ... 6
2 SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES
IN THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER .... 16
3 SUMMARY OF FIRLE MEASUREMENTS AND
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIAL* ANALYSES
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, EATON,
COLORADO
NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 3, 1971 .... 23
4 SUMMARY OF PERMIT APPLICATION DATA
FOR GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL,
EATON, COLORADO, OCTOBER 1971 ... . 24
5 SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIAL ANALYSES
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL,
GREELEY, COLORADO
DECEMBER 12-15, 1971 26
6 SUMMARY OF PERMIT APPLICATION DATA
FOR GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL,
GREELEY, COLORADO
OCTOBER 1971 28
7 SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND
ANALYTICAL RESULTS - CACHE LA POUDRE
RIVER, SEPTEMBER 13-16, 1971 .... 32
8 RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES -
CACHE LA POUDRE DRAINAGE BASIN
SEPTEMBER 13-15, 1971 35
9 SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND
ANALYTICAL RESULTS, CACHE LA POUDRE
SURVEY, DECEMBER 6-7, 13-15, 1971 . . 42
iv
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LIST OF TABLES (continued)
Table No. Title Page
10 RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES AT
SELECTED STATIONS
CACHE LA POUDRE SURVEY
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1971 44
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1
I. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE
This report has been prepared by EPA, Region VIII, and the Division
of Field Investigations - Denver Center, to determine necessary effluent
limitations for waste discharges in the Cache La Poudre River Basin to
assure compliance with approved water quality standards and to meet
requirements of the Federal Refuse Act Permit Program.
[1] [2]
The South Platte River Basin Project, FWPCA, conducted studies
on the Cache La Poudre River drainage basin in January 1964 and in September,
October, and November 1965. These studies included municipal and industrial
waste source evaluations and stream surveys to determine the pollution
loads discharged and the effects on receiving waters. The information
gained from these studies was presented to the Second Session of the
Enforcement Conference in the Matter of Pollution in the South Platte River
Basin in the State of Colorado. At a reconvened session of that conference
[31
held on November 6, 1966 , the Conferees recommended that "all discharges
into the South Platte River Basin shall have adequate remedial or controlled
facilities in full operation by June 30, 1971, so as to comply with water
quality standards established by the Colorado Water Pollution Control
[4]
Commission as approved by the Secretary of the Interior."
This report discusses and updates the results of these evaluations
and makes recommendations on allowable effluent loads from major sources
in the Basin. Status of compliance with previous requirements is also
evaluated.
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2
II. BASIN DESCRIPTION
The Cache La Poudre River is a major tributary of the South Platte
River. It rises in the Rocky Mountains north of Rocky Mountain National
Park in Colorado and flows northeast along the eastern slope of the
Continental Divide. It then turns and flows east joining the South Platte
River just downstream of Greeley, Colorado, at river mile (RM) 249. A
location map of the basin area under consideration is shown in Figure 1.
(The numbers and letters shown on Figure 1 are identified in Table 1).
Low flow conditions in the Cache La.Poudre River were examined for
the period of record from 1961 to 1970 (Table 1-A). During this period
(10 years), the low flow that occurred on a seven-day average was 6.1
cubic feet per second in 1963 at Fort Collins, Colorado, and the low seven-
day flow at Greeley, Colorado, during the sugar beet season was 9.9 cfs
in 1967. Irrigation withdrawals are a major consideration in determining
available flow. The drainage area of the Cache La Poudre River at Greeley
is 1877 square miles.
The economy of the area is heavily dependent on agriculture and
related industries. The dominant industrial facilities are the Great
Western Company sugar beet processing refineries and cattle feedlots.
The two major municipalities in the basin are Fort Collins and Greeley
with respe'ctive 1970 populations of 45,500 and 53,167. Colorado State
University is located at Fort Collins and the University of Northern
Colorado is at Greeley. There is a large Eastman Kodak plant at Windsor.
Practically all of the economic development is located in the lower
portion of the basin, downstream of Bellvue and Fort Collins.
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Hgnre NI i I Waste Sources & Stream Surve\ Stalion.s lor (.aclie La INnnlre Drainage Basin
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3
TABLE 1
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER BASIN
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
SAMPLING STATION IDENTIFICATION
Map No. River Mileage
A Farr Farms Feedlots 249.0/5.1
B City of Greeley Wastewater 249.0/5.5
Treatment Facility
C Great Western Sugar Beet Mill 249.0/5.4-249.0/4.5
Discharge at Greeley
D Great Western Sugar Beet Mill 249.0/6.9/7.0-249.0/6.9/6.9
Discharge at Eaton
E Monfort Feedlot and Packing 249.0/7.1
Company
F Eastman Kodak Plant 249.0/24.4
G City of Windsor Wastewater Treat- 249.0/28.4
ment Facility
H Windsor Meat Packing Co. 249.0/26.6
I City of Fort Collins Wastewater 249.0/39.4
Treatment Facility No. 2
J Flatiron Sand and Gravel Company 249.0/91.2
K City of Fort Collins Wastewater 249.0/44.1
Treatment Facility No. 1
L Eaton Wastewater Treatment Facility 249.0/6.9/6.6
1 South Platte River at Colorado-37 246.5
Fridge north of Kersey at USGS gage
2 South Platte River at highway 250.0
bridge, one mile upstream of mouth
of Cache la Poudre River
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TABLE 1 (Continued)
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER BASIN
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
SAMPLING STATION IDENTIFICATION
Map Mo. River Mileage
3 Cache la Poudre River just up- 249.0/0.5
stream of mouth, south of airport
on County Road Bridge
4 Cache la Poudre River downstream of 249.0/5.3
Greeley wastewater treatment plant
at highway bridge
5 Cache la Poudre River at 6th Avenue 249.0/6.3
Bridge in Greeley
6 Cache la Poudre River just upstream 249.0/7.0
of the mouth of Eaton Draw
7 Irrigation return just downstream 249.0/7.3/0.1
of the 23rd Avenue Bridge in
Greeley
8 Cache la Poudre River at 23rd 249.0/7.3
Avenue Bridge in Greeley
9 Cache la Poudre River downstream 249.0/17.9
of Windsor
10 Cache la Poudre River upstream of 249.0/26.5
Windsor
11 Cache la Poudre River at Timnath 249.0/36.1
12 Cache la Poudre River at Prospect 249.0/41.2
Avenue Bridge in Fort Collins
13 Cache la Poudre River upstream 249.0/46.8
of Fort Collins at Sheilds Avenue
14 Cache la Poudre River upstream 249.0/53.6
of Bellvue off Highway-287 at
Highway-54 east of bridge
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DRAFT REPORT ¦
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j
TABLE 1 (Continued)
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER BASIN
WATER QUALITY INVESTIGATIONS
SAMPLING STATION IDENTIFICATION
Map No. River Mileage
15 Eaton Draw at mouth 249.0/6.9/0.1
16 Eaton Draw downstream of Eaton 249.0/6.9/6.5
wastewater treatment facility
17 Eaton Draw upstream from Great 249.0/6.9/7.2
Western Sugar Factory
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TABLE I-A
SEVEN-DAY LOW FLOW^ - CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
i961-1970
Station 1961 1962 1963 196A 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
Cache la Poudre River at Mouth
of Canyon, near Fort Collins,
Colo.-(approximately 1 mile
vest of jet. US 287 & State
Kigh'/.-y 14, south side of
Highway 14) (KM 249.0/53.6)
Dates: 11/28-12/4 9/7-13 3/4-10 1/13-19 12/3-9 11/24-30 11/26-12/2 10/9-15 1/25-31 2/1-7
Avg. Flow CFS: 16.1 28.4 6-i 10.0 9.5 17.4 11.0 17.7 9.5 13.5
Cache la Poudre River near
Greeley, Colo. (3 miles east
of Greeley at bridge on County
Read south of airport)
(RM 24 9.0/3.0)
Dates: 4/27-5/3 5/12-16 7/11-17 7/11-17 5/2-8 * 5/16-22 10/6-12 5/1-7 4/29-5/5 5/15-21
Avg. Flow CFS: 8.3 16.5 9.1 9.6 9.8 8.9 9.9 8.9 13.8 42.7
1/ The 7-day low flov&were calculated for only the 10-year period 1961-70.
ainto ssn.rwjsxjSTx
£^Gq3h uyna
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DRAFT REPORT ,
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III. EXISTING WATER QUALITY STANDARDS
DESCRIPTION
On August 1, 1971, the Colorado State Water Pollution Control Commis-
sion published notice of water quality standards for Colorado and changes
[41
in stream classification. The procedural requirements of notice and
hearings were complied with to the satisfaction of the Commission and
the following standards were adopted August 1, 1971, with an effective
date of September 1, 1971. These State Standards are considered^therefore,
to apply to the Cache La Poudre River.
I. Applicable Use Classifications
The Cache La Poudre River is contained within the South Platte
River Basin stream's tabulation in the Colorado State Standards.
Four stretches of the Cache La Poudre River are tabulated and assigned
classifications. The table below indicates the Colorado State area
identification number, the stretch of the stream classified, and the
corresponding quality classification:
Area
No.
Area
From
To
Quality
Class
31 Main Stem of the
Cache La Poudre
River, including
Horsetooth Reser-
voir.
32 Main Stem of the
Cache La Poudre.
32a Main Stem of the
Cache La Poudre
River.
33 North and South
Forks of Cache
La Poudre River.
Source.
Point of diver-
sion for City of
Greeley's water
treatment plant.
Second Avenue
Bridge, Greeley.
Sources.
Point of diversion
for City of Greeley's
water treatment
plant.
Second Avenue Bridge,
Greeley.
Confluence with South
Platte.
Mouths.
A ,B^ ,D^
1*2 > C ,D^
C,DX
A-,B] ,Dj
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I 8
Class A water, as defined by the Colorado State Standards,
applies to water withdrawn for treatment as a potable supply.
Class water is intended for the use of cold water fishery,
Class B2 water for warm water fishery, and Class C water is intended
for industrial uses while Class water is intended for irrigation
purposes.
II. Applicable Criteria
Six general paragraphs contained within the water quality
standards for Colorado impose narrative criteria on the waters of
the Cache La Poudre River. These six paragraphs are:
1. 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
determined 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 classified 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 stan-
dards applicable to the classified use of the water.
2. 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.
3. Free from unsightly floating debris, oil, grease, scum, and
other floating material attributable to municipal, domestic, or
industrial wastes, or other controllable sources.
4. 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.
5. 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 anima] life.
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6. 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 established
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 Handbook
69.
In addition, Colorado's nondegradation statement,as it applies
to intrastate waters, limits the quality of the receiving water with
the following language:
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 classification
of such waters will be required.
The specific quality classifications, A, B^, B2, C, and also
impose the following criteria on the waters of the Cache La Poudre
River Basin.
CLASS A - The following standards shall apply to water withdrawn
for treatment as a potable supply:
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 deter-
mined 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: Dissolved oxygen shall not be less than 4
milligrams per liter.
c. £H: The pH shall be maintained between 6.0 and 9.0.
d. Taste and Odor: Free from materials attributable to municipal,
domestic, or industrial wastes, or other controllable sources
that, will produce taste or odor in the water.
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e. Dissolved Solids: Total dissolved solids, annual volume weighted
average, should be less than 500 milligrams per liter.
f. Selected Chemical Constituents: The following substances shall
not be present in such amounts as to exceed the specified concen-
trations in a potable water supply according to the mandatory
requirements of the latest edition of the U. S. Public Health
Service Drinking Water Standards:
Substance Concentration - mg/1
Arsenic ----------- 0.05
Barium- ----------- 1.00
Cadmium ----------- 0.01
Chromium (Hexavalent) - - - - 0.05
Cyanide ----------- 0.20
Lead ------------ 0.05
Selenium- ---------- 0.01
Silver- ----------- 0.05
CLASS B-l - The following standards shall apply to waters classified
for fish and wildlife (Cold 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 deter-
mined 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 cold water fisheries, the dissolved
oxygen content shall in no case go below 6 milligrams per liter.
c. jgH: The pH shall be maintained between 6.5 and 8.5. No control-
lable pH change will be permitted which will interfere with fish
and aquatic life.
d. Turbidity: No turbidity shall exist in concentrations that will
impair natural and developed fisheries.
e. -Temperature: In cold water fisheries the temperatures shall not
exceed 70°F„ No controllable temperature change will be permitted
which will interfere with the spawning and other aspecLs of fish
life.
f. Toxic Material: Free from 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 aquatic life.
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g. Other Material: Free from materials attributable to municipal,
domestic, or industrial wastes, or other controllable sources
that will produce off-flavor in the flesh of fish.
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 deter-
mined 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 ii. 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. j>H: The pH shall be maintained between 6.5 and 8.5. No
controllable pH change will be permitted which will interfere
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.
f. Toxic Material: Free from 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 aquatic life.
g. Other Material: Free from materials attributable to municipal,
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. j)H: 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.
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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 deleterious
substances attributable to municipal, domestic, industrial
wastes, or other controllable sources in concentrations or combi-
nations which are harmful to crop life.
For purposes of quick reference, the table below indicates the
principle parameters of interest with respect to receiving water quality
standards, for the classifications A, B^, D^; B2, C, D-^; and C, D^.
Area
No.
Class
Fecal Coliform
Bacteria
D.O.
PPM
PH
T.D.S.
Temp.
°F
31,33
< 1000/100 ml.*
6
6.5-8.5
< 500 mg/1"
70*
32
E 2C,
< 1000/100 ml.*
5
6.5-8.5
—
90*
32a
C.Dt
—
3
5.0-9.0
—
90*
*Refer to Standards for specific language.
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INDUSTRIAL AND MUNICIPAL COMPLIANCE SCHEDULES
Compliance Schedules which were incorporated into the water quality
standards for the Cache La Poudre industries and municipalities were as
follows:
City or Industry
Type of Control
Date Compliance Required
Great Western Sugar
Company - Greeley.
Great Western Sugar
Company - Eaton.
Lone Star Steel
Fort Collins.
City of Fort
Collins.
City of Greeley.
City of Eaton.
Install recirculating
flume and wastewater
system.
Install recirculating
flume and wastewater
system.
None
Increase capacity.
Secondary treatment
with disinfection.
7/1/71 (not in compliance)
1968 (in compliance)
None
4/75
2/6/72
12/69
Fish Hatcheries.
None
None
The Cache La Poudre River Basin is included in the area covered by
the South Platte River Enforcement Conference which was convened in 1965
and 1966. The Conferees agreed that pollution caused by municipal and
industrial discharges in the South Platte River Basin was endangering the
health and welfare of the populace and agreed upon the following recom-
mendations for abatement:
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1) 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
as approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
2) Time schedules announced at the conference for specific
municipalities and industries which will fall within the above
time schedule are approved.
In the Cache La Poudre River Basin, the specific industry which had
completion dates prior to June 1971, is the Great Western Sugar Company,
Eaton plant, which was to have a pulp dryer and a flume water recycle
system in before the 1967-68 campaign. This facility is in operation.
POSSIBLE UPGRADING
As mentioned in the section describing the standards, a recent
reclassification was adopted with an effective date of September 1, 1971.
No additional upgrading is therefore anticipated in the near future.
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IV. WASTE SOURCES
The municipal and industrial waste sources in the Cache La Poudre
River Basin were investigated during the months of September and December
1971. Data were obtained on water pollution control practices at each
plant through in-plant surveys, inspection of Refuse Act Permit appli-
cations, and/or by contact with company representatives and local and
State water pollution control officials.
Municipal
The municipal waste treatment facilities in the Cache La Poudre River
Basin are listed in Table 2.
1. Fort Collins Wastewater Treatment Plar.t Mo. 1 - This plant serves
a population of approximately 22^000. It was originally con-
structed in 1948, expanded in 1958, and again in 1961. Chlorin-
ation was added in 1968. Treatment is provided by a high rate
trickling filter designed for 4.5 MGD. Studies conducted by the
South Platte River Basin Project in 1965 and 1966, showed that
the removal efficiencies varied from 65 percent to about 77 per-
cent. The need for additional waste treatment was recognized
at that time.
During the in-plant survey, conducted August 24-27, 1971,
the plant removal efficiency was about 73 percent which is below
State requirements, i.e., 80 percent BOD removal. At the time
of the survey, flows were about 30 percent over design. City
officials attribute the high flows to infiltration. Additional
treatment plus the reduction of infiltration is required.
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TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF MUNICIPAL WASTE SOURCES IN THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
Flow
(MGD)
Removal Efficiencies
Name of
Type of
Design
Observed
Date(s) of
Observed (%)
Facility
Treatment
(Avg.)
Evaluation
BOD Susp. Solids
Remarks
Fort Collins
Plant //I
Trickling filter
with chlorination.
4.5
5.9
8/24-27/71
73 85
Disinfection marginal.
Treatment inadequate.
Fort Collins
Plant i\2
Activated sludge
with chlorination.
A.8
5.7
8/24-27/71
86 70
No chlorination for
approximately 3 months
prior to and during
part of survey.
Windsor
Aerated lagoon
and stabilization
pond.
0.6
Not evaluated during
the DFIC survey. Infor-
mation obtained from
the State.
Greeley
Activated sludge
with chlorination.
7.7
8.6
8/24-27/71
12/12-15/71
50
60
Organically and hydrauli-
cally overloaded. Treat-
ment inadequate & disin-
fection inadequate.
Eaton
Oxidation ditch
with chlorination.
0.22
0.16
11/30-12/3/71 -
Effluent sampling showed
BOD loading of 100 pounds
per day to the River.
i
A1NO asm 1VW
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DRAFT REPORT ;
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY ( 17
. !
2. Fort Collins Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2 - This plant also
serves a population of about 22,000. It was constructed in 1968
with a capacity of A.8 MGD. Treatment is provided by the conven-
tional activated sludge process with primary clarification,
separate sludge digestion, and disinfection. The in-plant survey
conducted on August 24-27, 1971, showed that the flows were
almost 25 percent over the design capacity and the plant effic-
iency was less than 80 percent. Disinfection was inadequate
during the survey because of a malfunction in the chlorination
equipment. The plant experiences infiltration difficulties, and
according to city officials, a repair and inspection program is
underway to reduce and correct these difficulties.
3. Greeley Wastewater Treatment Plant - The present treatment system
consists of conventional activated sludge with primary clarifi-
cation, separate sludge digestion, and chlorination. The system
is designed for 8.0 MGD and an organic loading of 13,000 pounds
of BOD/day. It serves a population of over 53,000 and also treats
the waste from the Monfort Packing Company. Studies conducted
by the South Platte River Basin Project in 1966, showed that this
treatment facility was providing greater than 90 percent BOD
removal.
An in-plant survey was conducted August 24-27, 1971, and
during December 12-15, 1971. The results of these surveys indicate
that the plant is grossly overloaded organically. The Monfort
Packing Company contributes flows of 1.6-1.8 MGD. During the
August survey, the BOD concentrations in the Monfort wastewater
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DRAFT REPORT
'OR INTERNAL USE ONLY ' 18
j
averaged 1200 mg/1 constituting a BOD load of about 16,000
lbs./day, which is in excess of plant capacity. Data obtained
from plant officials for the month of November indicated average
influent BOD concentrations of 525 mg/1 and flows of 7.0 MGD.
Plant efficiencies for BOD and suspended solids removal vary from
40 to 60 percent depending on the waste load contributed by
Monfort (Company operates 5-6 days per week).
In addition to the activated sludge plant, there is a trick-
ling filter plant which became inoperative when the activated
sludge plant was placed in operation. Attempts are presently
being made to activate the trickling filter plant for pre-treat-
ment of the Monfort wastes.
4. Windsor Wastewater Treatment Plant - Treatment is provided by an
aerated lagoon followed by polishing ponds. The plant was con-
structed in 1970. The Eastman Kodak Company, a major waste con-
tributor, donated the land for the plant site. Company wastewaters
are sent to the Windsor plant after pre-treatment. No in-plant
survey has been conducted.
5. Eaton Wastewater Treatment Plant - In 1965, waste treatment con-
sisted of primary facilities and sand filters. Studies conducted
by the South Platte River Basin Project showed that BOD removal
efficiencies of approximately 50 percent were achieved. Effluent
concentrations ranged from 70 to 110 mg/1 (composite samples).
Present treatment is provided by an aeration ditch, secondary
clarification, and chlorination. Sludge is wasted to drying beds.
The effluent was sampled during the period November 30-December 3,
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DRAFT REPORT
fOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
I
I
19
1971, arid at that time the average flow was about 0.16 MGD. The
BOD load discharged was about 100 lbs./day. The BOD concentrations
in the effluent were of the same magnitude as those observed in
1965. The percent removal obtained by the plant is unknown, but
visual observations indicate a poor quality effluent.
Industrial
1. Eastman Kodak Company at Windsor - Presently, the Eastman Kodak
Company obtains sensitized material from its Rochester, New York
plant and converts these materials into consumer goods. This is
done mechanically and thus no chemicals are required. Future
expansion plans call for operations which will involve the use
of both organic and inorganic chemicals.
Approximately 1,000 people are presently employed at the
plant with a future work force to be about 2,000 to 2,500 employees.
Wastewaters (mainly cooling at present) are treated in a Butyl
rubber-lined lagoon with the effluent going to the Windsor waste-
water treatment system. No evaluation of effluent quality to
the municipal plant has been conducted.
2. Farr Farms Feedlot at Greeley - Approximately 15,000 head of
cattle are fed at Farr Farms. At the time of the water quality
studies by the South Platte River Basin Project, the feedlots
were drained by underground pipes and this drainage along with
the surface runoff was discharged directly to the Cache La Poudre
River. It was recommended at the Conference that the feedlot
owners design and construct berms or suitable drainage facilities
to divert Lhc surface runoff to lined lagoons or treat these
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DRAFT REPORT ,
'OR INTERNAL USE ONLY ]
20
wastes by equivalent means to protect against pollution of both
surface and ground water.
Present treatment facilities consist of holding ponds with
the effluent either utilized for irrigation or diverted to
evaporation lagoons. No contamination from animal wastes was
apparent during the survey in September and December 1971.
3. 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 a holding pond with the effluent utilized for irrigation
of crops. At the packing plant cooling water and the defrost
water are discharged directly to the Cache La Poudre River. All
other packing house wastes are sent to the Greeley wastewater
treatment plant. The organic load from Monfort presently exceeds
the design capacity of the Greeley plant.
A. Flatiron Sand and Gravel Company at Fort Collins, Colorado - Sand
is washed for about two months each year with approximately 71,000
tons being produced. The wash water is obtained from a natural
reservoir at the rate of about 250 gallons per minute and returned
after use to the reservoir. At the end of the season, the con-
tents of the reservoir are discharged to the Cache La Poudre
River, via a drainage ditch. No discharge was occurring Lo the
river during the investigation on September 3, 1971.
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DRAFT REPORT ,
rOR INTERNAL USE ONLY ;
i
21
5. Flatiron Sand and Gravel Company at Greeley, Colorado, and
Windsor, Colorado - These two facilities dewater sand and gravel
pits prior to excavation. According to the permit applications,
the water discharged from these operations is comparable to the
receiving water quality and therefore no significant degradation
occurs. No in-plant survey has been conducted.
6. Windsor Packing Company at Windsor, Colorado - This company proces-
ses sheep, hogs, and cattle to produce sausage products and
edible lard. As a result of studies conducted by the South Platte
River Basin Project in 1965, additional lagoon treatment was
recommended. The company appears to be in compliance with that
recommendation. At present, all wastewater from this system
goes to two lagoons, which are located adjacent to the Cache La
Poudre River. There is no direct discharges to the River although
seepage to ground water probably occurs. No plant evaluation
has been conducted.
7. Great Western Sugar Mill at Eaton, Colorado - This mill is a
straight-house operation and processes about 2100 tons of beets
per day. Flume waters are recycled through an earthen channel
in which solids are settled. Any discharge from this system
reportedly goes to non-overflowing lagoons. Condenser waters are
sent through a spray pond for cooling and then recycled. Any
overflow from the spray pond discharges to Eaton Draw (001)—^
JL/ Numbers in parentheses are the Refuse Act Permit designation.
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DRAFT REPORT ,
rOK INTERNAL USE ONLY , 22
Other waste discharges from this plant are the gas scrubber
effluent (002) and the boiler blowdown effluent (003). These
also go directly to Eaton Draw.
A survey was conducted on November 29-December 3, 1971, to
ascertain waste loads discharged from the Eaton Mill. Results
of the analyses (Table 3) indicated that approximately 500 lbs.
of BOD (0.25 lbs. BOD/Ton) were being discharged to Eaton Draw.
Information as submitted by company officials (Table 4)
shows that the combined discharge from this mill is within guide-
lines established for the beet sugar industry with the exception
of fecal coliform organisms. The limitation of 75 x 10^ fecal
coliform organisms per ton of beets sliced could be easily met
if the gas scrubber (002) and boiler blowdown discharges (003)
were eliminated or given adequate treatment.
In the State certification of this mill on August 13, 1971,
it was recommended that 1) a conditional permit be issued, valid
until September 1, 1972, 2) the boiler blowdown discharge (003)
be eliminated, and 3) the wastewater be treated by other methods.
At a meeting held on August 4, 1971, between representatives of
the Environmental Protection Ag'ency, The State of Colorado, and
Great Western Sugar Company, it was recommended that the gas
scrubber and boiler blowdown effluents be eliminated.
8. Great Western Sugar Mill at Greeley, Colorado - The Greeley mill
is a straight-house operation processing an average of 2330 tons
of beets per day. Water supply is taken from the Cache La Poudre
River (approximately 5 MGD), city water (approximately 0.7 MGD)
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TABLE 3
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND CHEMICAL AND BACTERIAL ANALYSES
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, EATON, COLORADO
NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 3, 1971
Field Measurements and Analytical Results
Sta. No.
Description
Flow
Avg. pH
(MGD) Range
Temp. Cond.
°C (limhos/cm)
Range Range
BOD mg/1
Average
TOC mg/1 Alkalinity mg/1
Average Range
EAT-1
Spray pond
overflow
(001)1'
3.10 7.7-8.1
24-25 1400-1500
21
10 389-407
EAT-2
Gas scrubber
effluent
(002)
0.07 7.5-10.5
13-23 1350-2000
15
21 483->2047
Bacterial Results
Fecal Coliform (MF/100 ml)
Fecal Streptococci (MF/100 ml)
Sta. No.
Maximum Log Mean
Minimum
Maximum
Log Mean Minimum
EAT-1
20 22
4
19,000
7,900 5,200
EAT-2
900 < 48
< 10
58,000
4,100 220
1/ Numbers in parentheses are the Refuse Act Permit designations.
ATWO asn IVMcTSIXMI
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DRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
24
TABLE 4
SUMMARY OF PERMIT APPLICATION DATA
FOR GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, EATON, COLORADO
OCTOBER 1971
Parameter
Water
Supply In
Condenser
Water ,
(001) -
Gas
Washer-, i
(002) ~
Boiler
Blowdown,]etc.
(003) ~
Flow (MGD)
BOD (mg/1)
lbs. added/
ton beets
COD (mg/1)
Suspended Solids
(mg/1)
lbs. added/
ton beets
pH (Range)
Temp. (°C)(Range)
NH3-N (mg/1)
Turbidity
Total Coliform
(MPN/100 ml)
no. added/ton
Fecal Coliform
(MPN/100 ml)
no. added/ton
Fecal Streptococcus
(MPN/100 ml)
no. added/ton
27
88
7.4-7.6
23-28
0.50
15
3,900
70
10
2.68
15
0.112
21
91
0.03A
8.0-8.1
20-28
5
5,500
85x10
140
4x10
750
37x10
6
0.07
6
96
219
0.038
7.6-8.0
22-24
5.30
100
74,500
93x10
23,000
30xl06
110,000
146xl06
0.11
27
0.01
109
92
0.002
9.4-9.5
57-65
15
85,000,
169x10
25,500
53x10
170,000
354x10
1/ Numbers in parentheses are the Refuse Act Permit designations.
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DRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
r25
and an undetermined amount of well water. A city storm sewer
also discharges to the water supply pond. If necessary, water
from the barometric condensers can be released to the water supply
pond and any excess water in the pond can be released to the
river (003).
The Greeley plant has three known discharges, one as described
above. Ashes and unburned coal and coke residues originating
from the boilers and the lime kiln are flumed more or less directly
into the Cache La Poudre River (002). The discharge line also
contains boiler blowdown occurring somewhat intermittently through
the day. The Greeley ash pond is quite ineffective and provisions
should be made for complete removal of ashes from the stream.
Boiler blowdown could also be handled easily by land disposal at
this plant.
Except for lime mud, the remaining plant wastes, comprised
of waste flume waters, excess condensates, leaks, spills, boilouts,
and miscellaneous, are all collected into a 27-inch sewer line
and routed east of the plant into a long serpentine ditch which
eventually discharges to the Cache La Poudre River (001).
An in-plant survey was conducted during the period December 13-
15, 1971, to ascertain the degree of treatment provided by the
serpentine ditch and the amounts of wastes discharged from the
mill. The results of this survey (Table 5) indicate the average
BOD load discharged about 25,000 pounds or 10.7 pounds per ton of
beets processed. Treatment efficiencies for BOD removal in the
serpentine ditch were > 10 percent over the sampling period.
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TABLE 5
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND CHEMICAL AND BACTERIAL ANALYSES
GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, GREELEY, COLORADO
DECEMBER 12-15, 1971
Field Measurements and Analytical Results
Temp. Cond. BOD^' TOCi/
Flow (MGD) pH °C (pmhos/cm) (mg/1) (mg/1)
Sta. No. Description Range Avg. Range Range Range R.ange Avg. Range Avg.
GW-Greeley-3
Influent to
Serpentine
Ditch
-
8.6-8.8 25-30
1200-1350
560-620 590 156-528 342
GW-Greeley-4
(ooi)V
Effluent from
Serpentine
Ditch
5.1-4.6
4.9 6.7-7.4 20-24
1500-1800
480-765 620 396-468 432
GW-Greeley-5
Water supply
intake from
pond
—
7.7-7.9 0-1
1400-1450
8-30 19 8-97 53
GW-Greeley-6
(002)
Effluent from 0.3-0.9
ash disposal
and boiler
blowdown system
0.6 8.1-10.2 5-46
1650-2150
Bacteriological
Results
Fecal Coliform (MF/100 ml)
Fecal Streptococci (MF/100 ml)
Sta. No.
Maximum
Log Mean Minimum
Maximum Log Mean Minimum
GW-Greeley-4
780,000
210,000 130,000
11,000,000 >3,500,000 >1,000,000
GW-Greeley-6
650,000
>150,000 > 60,000
12,000,000 >3,100,000 > 100,000
If Numbers in parentheses are the Refuse Act Permit designations of the Great Western Sugar Company.
_2/ Based on two 24-composite samples.
ATNO TvNRniMI
xsoasn JAvm
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
27
Information as submitted by company officials (Table 6)
shows that the mill was discharging 8.8 pounds per ton of beets
processed. The combined discharge does not meet the guidelines
established for the beet sugar industry.
In the State certification of this mill on August 16, 1971,
it was recommended that a conditional permit be issued. The
Colorado Water Pollution Control Commission has extended the
implementation date to December 31, 1971, and are considering
extending it to the end of the 1971-72 campaign.
An aerial reconnaissance of the Cache La Poudre River from
downstream of its confluence with the South Platte River to
upstream of the Monfort of Colorado feedlots was conducted
December 16, 1971. The wastewater from the Great Western mill
discolored the Cache La Poudre from the point of discharge down-
stream to the aforementioned confluence. The stream was black
and opaque in this reach. Further, the inflow from the Cache La
Poudre clung to the left bank (looking downstream) of the South
Platte River for about 150 yards before it began to disperse into
the ambient South Platte waters. The wastewater from the Greeley
treatment plant caused no apparent color affect on the Cache La
Poudre River.
Wastewater treatment at this plant is no better than that
observed in January 1964 when studies by the South Platte River
Basin Project indicated a BOD removal efficiency of 10 percent.
Treatment at this mill should be in accord with base level treat-
ment practices for the sugar mill and allowable waste discharges
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DRAFT REPORT :
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY ,
. I
TABLE 6
SUMMARY OF PERMIT APPLICATION DATA
FOR GREAT WESTERN SUGAR MILL, GREELEY, COLORADO
OCTOBER 1971
Lagoon
Condenser
Water
Discharge
Cinder Pit
Water ,
(003)
Parameter
Supply In
(001)
(002)
Flow (MGD)
_
7.A
0.046
BOD (mg/1)
5
309
236
10
lbs. added/
ton beets
8.75
0.04
COD (mg/1)
53
489
581
69
Suspended Solids
(mg/1)
40
444
639
18
lbs. added/
ton beets
11.6
0.11
pR (Range)
7.0-7.7
7.1-7.4
7.6-9.2
7.7-8.6
Temp. (°C)(Range)
7-9
23-29
12-26
31-36
NH3-N (mg/1)
0.95
8.42
7.62
18.25
Turbidity
20
860
332
20
Total Coliform
(MPN/100 ml)
2,500
1,400,000
182x10
1,720,000
135
no. added/ton
1.4x10
Fecal Coliform
(MPN/100 ml)
270
67,000
330,000
0.3x10
45
no. added/ton
8.7x10
Fecal Streptococcus
(MPN/100 ml)
895
90,000
610,000
655
no. added/ton
11.6x10
0.5xl09
Sulfides-S^ (mg/1)
0.0
3.6
0.0
0.0
1/ This should not be considered as a continuous discharge as normally the
entire flow is recycled back into the mill.
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
29
should be predicated on low flow conditions. A maximum waste
discharge level should also be established (e.g., 0.5 pounds
BOD/Ton). The water quality improvement measures required in
the Cache La Poudre River Basin are discussed elsewhere in this
report.
9. Lone Star Steel Company at Fort Collins, Colorado - This company
produces steel pipes from hot rolled steel coils. Once through
cooling water is discharged to the Cache La Poudre River via a
ditch and creek.
The following parameters were provided by company officials.
MAXIMUM AVERAGE
Flow (gpd) 30,000 28,700
Temperature °F (winter) 60 53
Temperature °F (summer) 76 68
Based on the above data, this discharge will not cause water
quality degradation. No in-plant survey has been conducted.
10. Fish Hatcheries - Several fish hatcheries discharge wastewater
to the upper Cache La Poudre River. The suspended solids concen-
trations are high during periods when raceways are cleaned and
could cause water quality degradation in the river.
No Refuse Act Permit applications have been received to date.
The policy of the Corps of Engineers is not to pursue these
delinquent applicants.
No survey has been conducted of these fish hatcheries.
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
30
11. Water Treatment Plants - The Greeley and Fort Collins water
treatment plants are the largest on the Cache La Poudre River.
The practice at these and other plants is to discharge clarifier
sludge and filter backwash water into the river without treatment.
Suspended solids and pH of these wastewaters can be in excess of
10,000 mg/1 and 10.5 respectively. No survey of these plants
has been conducted.
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
31
V. WATER QUALITY
A. South Platte River Basin Project Studies
Studies conducted during September 7-12, 1965^ indicate the
Cache la Poudre River at Bellvue was of good quality. Moving down-
stream the water aualitv deteriorate^. biochemical oxveen demand concen-
trations were aenerallv low. raneine from 2.0 mg/1 upstream of
Bellvue to 5.1 mg/1 just upstream of the Greeley wastewater treat-
ment plant. Concentrations increased markedly downstream of the treat-
ment plant (RM 5.3) to 28.0 mg/1. Total and fecal coliform concentrations
were 2.1 x 10® and 410,000 MPN/100 ml, respectively, at this point
during the 1965 survey, indicating ineffective chlorination. The
dissolved oxygen concentrations at all points except directly down-
stream of the Greeley wastewater treatment plant were at super-
saturation levels. Downstream of the Greeley plant, the average
DO level was 6.5 mg/1 (80 percent saturation).
Bacterial quality of the Cache La Poudre River was good upstream
from the City of Fort Collins, (i.e., total coliform of 1,100
MPN/100 ml and fecal coliform of 290 MPN/100 ml) but was considered
relatively poor at all downstream points.
B. Water Quality Survey September 13-17, 1971
During this period, more than 50 miles of the Cache la Poudre
were studied extending from just upstream of Bellvue (RM 53.6)
downstream to the mouth.
Upstream from Bellvue, the quality of the Cache la Poudre River
was chemically and bacteraally acceptable (TabDes 7 and 8).
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DRAFT REPORT
FGR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 7
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS - CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
SEPTEMBER 13-16, 1971
Nao
No.
Station Description
pH
S.U.
Conduct,
ymhos/en
Terap.
°C
D.0.
ma/1
%
Sat.
Total
Alkalinity
BOD
rag/1
Total
Solids
mg/1
Suspended
Solids
nR/1
TOC
mg/l
Turbid.
J.T.U.
1
Soj'-h Platte River at
Kile upstream
of -icuth of Cache
la Pcuare River.
(R.'i 248.0)
Average
Range
8.1-8.2
1800-2000
14
11-15
5.8
2.0-8.5
78
22-81
?38
229-243
1.8
1.7-2.0
1255
1190-1300
45
30-70
-
16
13-20
3
Cache la Poudre
Ri\cl near nouth
nt JJavis Ranch.
(R.v 249.0/0.5)
(A\g flow CFS 113)
Average
Range
7.7-7.8
1900-2000
13
11-15
5.1
2.7-6.1
57
32-68
254
238-267
10.1
4.2-11.0
1440
1320-1520
35
30-50
8
6-9
12
5-23
4
Cache la Poudre
Ri 'er dowr.strean
of Greeley waste-
water treatment
facility.
(R:; 249.0/5.3)
Average
Range
7.7-8.1
1900-2600
13
12-14
5.48
3.9-6.8
62
43-84
251
237-275
> 6
> 5->6
1473
1410-1550
78
40-140
31
17-50
5
Cr.'_'T> ]a Poudre
R:>(r 6th Ave.
i*i Creeley.
(R>. 249.0/6.3)
Average
RaTge
7.9-8.2
2000-2500
13
11-14
7.6
6.9-8.5
86
75-100
257
247-282
3.4
3.2-3.5
1355
620-1720
50
40-70
20
7-30
OJ
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 7 (Continued)
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS
SEPTEMBER 13-16, 1971
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
Kap
No.
Station Description
pK
S.U.
Conduct.
yi mhos/cm
Temp.
°C
D.Q.
rag/1
%
Sat.
Total
Alkalinity
BOD
mfi/1
Total
Solids
mg/1
Suspended
Solids
mg/1
TOC
wr/1
Turbid.
J.T.U.
15 Eaton Draw near mouth.
C?y 249.0/6.9/0.1) Average
(A\g flow CFS 1.5) Range
8.5
1650-1900
12
11-14
8.2
7.6-9.3
92
85-101
201
200-202
10.5
10-11
1367
1270-1550
100
40-170
10
8-12
42
22-60
Irrigation return
j-j-sc downstream of
2?rc Ave. bridge.
(PJ>1 249.0/7. 3/0. 1)
(A\£. flow CFS 7.5)
Average
Range
7.9-8.1 1350-2600
11
10-12
9.0
8.6-9.4
99
96-103
206
162-315
7.0 1825
5.2-8.8 1380-2810
310
250-350
121
85-140
Cache la Poudre
R-vcr at Spanish
Colony at 23rd Ave.
bridge.
(RX 249.0/7.3)
('\vg flow CFS 40)
Cac^e la Poudre
River downstream
cl Windsor.
(?-¦•' 249.0/17.9)
Average
Range 7.6-8.1
Average
Range 7.8-8.1
1750-2100
1500-1700
12 10.9 121 275 1.9 1785 <10 3 5
11-14 8.7-13.9 96-155 260-290 1.5-2.3 1690-1940 < 10-10 2-4 4-5
13
11-15
9.0
8.0-10.4
114
90-170
230
222-248
3.5
3.1-3.8
1357
1200-1450
35
30-40
9
3-16
10 Cache la Poudre
Fiver upstrean of
\U idsor.
(«-' 249.0/26.5)
Average
Range 7.8-8.2
1300-1450
13
11-14
9.4
8.7-10.1
108
103-112
195
187-209
3.9
3.8-4.0
1120
1010-1260
37.5
30-50
5
4-6
14
7-18
OJ
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL'USE ONLY
TABLE 7 (Continued)
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS - CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
SEPTEMBE? 13-16, 1971
Total Suspended
pH Conduct. Temp. D.O. % Total BOD Solids Solids TOC Turbid.
S .U. umhos/cm ^C mg/1 Sat. Alkalinity mg/1 mg/1 mg/1 mg/1 J.T.U.
Map
So.
Station Description
11 Cccie la Poudre River
at Ti"iiath.
(RM 249.0/36.3)
Average 13 5.5 61 252 5.3 1622 < 10 3.5 4
Range 7.5-7.7 1600-2000 11-14 3.7-6.5 41-72 247-257 4.0-6.6 1560-1700 < 10-10 2-5 3-5
12 Cache la Poudre River
at Prospect Ave.
bridge in Fort
Collns.
(P.-I 249.0/41.2)
(Ave;, flow CFS 55)
13 Cai he la Poudre River
up-i'-rean of Fort
Collins at Shields
Avcrua Bridge.
(R.-: 24.9.0/46 8)
Average
Range
Average
Range
7.3-8.3 430-750
7.2-8.0 130-160
14 C?che la Poudre River
upocreatn of Bellvue
oCC '!wy 287 at Hwy 54E
brieve.
(K.'i 249.0/53.6) Average
(A\£,. flov CFS 267) Range
7.1-7.3 60-85
13
11-15
7.7
7.4-10.]
86
48-120
142
;i3-171
7.4 423 < 20
6.6-8.2 320-570 < 10-20
12 9.2 102 43 1.3 90 < 10
10-15 8.6-9.5 95-111 39-46 1.1-1.4 60-150 < 10-10
12 9.6 109 30 1 65
11-14 9.2-10.4 101-108 26-36 0 , 9-1 , 0 30-120
< 10
< 1-1
8
3-17
4
3-5
4
3-5
U!
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 8
RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES - CACHE LA POUDRE DRAINAGE BASIN
(September 13-15, 1971)
Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptococcus
MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ral MF Count/100 ml
Map No. Station Description Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Lor Mean Minimum
1 South Platte River at 90,000 33,000 13,000 8,200 2,000 840 11,000 2,700 880
Colorado-37 bridge
north of Kersey at
USGS gage.
(RM 246.5)
2 South Platte River at 25,000 18,000 15,000 900 450 220 3,400 2,400 1,300
highway bridge 1 mile
upstream of mouth of
Cache la Poudre River.
(RM 250.0)
Cache la Poudre River 5,200 27,000 1,200 3,300 2,100 1,400 7,200 2,600 1,000
just upstream of mouth,
at Davis Ranch on County
Road Bridge.
(RM 249.0/0.5)
Cache la Poudre River > 80,000 > 38,000 9,000 5,400 2,500 780 32,000 20,000 12,000
downstream of Greeley
wastewater treatment
plant at highway
bridge.
(RM 249.0/ 5.3
Cache la Poudre River 37,000 20,000 9,000 7,300 3,200 650 57,000 16,000 1,500
at 6th Avenue bridge
in Greeley.
(RM 249.0/6.3
u>
Ln
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l?RAi< i RLruRT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 8 (Continued)
RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES - CACHE LA POUDRE DRAINAGE BASIN
(September 13-15, 1971)
Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptococcus
_MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ml
Map No. Station Description Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum
8
Cache la Poudre River
at 23rd Avenue bridge
in Greeley.
(RM 249.0/7.3)'
11,000
9,600
8,000
890
640
520
3,400
1,100
440
9
Cache la Poudre River
downstream of Windsor.
(RM 249.0/17.9)
9,000
3,100
1,700
1,600
750
410
4,700
3,800
2,900
10
Cache la Poudre River
upstream of Windsor.
(RM 249.0/26.5)
18,000
4,600
1,500
1,200
460
120
5,600
2,400
1,300
11
Cache la Poudre River
at Timnath.
(RM 249.0/36.1)
80,000
25,000
12,000
930
840
770
3,000
1,600
900
12
Cache la Poudre River
at Prospect Avenue
bridge in Fort Collins.
(RM 249.0/41.2)
15,000
14,000
13,000
290
150
60
29,000
5,900
2,200
13
Cache la Poudre River
upstream of Fort Collins
at Sheilds Avenue.
(RM 249.0/46.8)
3,200
1,500
390
310
130
70
5,700
720
190
u>
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dRAi< i RbruRT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 8 (Continued)
RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES - CACHE LA POUDRE DRAINAGE BASIN
(September 13-15, 1971)
Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Fecal Streptococcus
MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ml
Map No , Station Description Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum
14 Cache la Poudre River 6,400 450 50 <10 <9 9 100 64 30
upstream cf Eellvue off
Highway 287 at Highway
54 east bridge.
(RM 249.0/53.6)
LO
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DRAFT REPORT
VR INTERNAL USE ONLY
38
Biochemical oxygen demand and DO values averaged 1 mg/1 and 9.6 mg/1
respectively. The maximum fecal coliform concentration was less than
10 MF count/100 ml. A diverse invertebrate community was found in-
habiting the stream bed and included pollution sensitive stoneflies,
mayflies and caddisflies. The fish populations included rainbow
and brown trout.
Downstream from Fort Collins (RM 41.2) tb° effects of pollution
from the Fort Collins No. 1 wastewater treatment plant and feedlot
drainage became evident. Bacterial concentrations increased,
(i.e., total and fecal coliform log mean concentrations of 14,000
and 150 respectively) and the diversity of benthic organisms was
reduced such that pollution sensitive invertebrates were eliminated.
The fish population at this station was composed of bullheads, sun-
fish, suckers and various minnows. The BOD concentration had increased
from about 1 mg/1 at Bellvue to about 7.5 mg/1 at this station. The
dissolved oxygen concentrations were less than saturation levels
(7.7 mg/1) but were well above the approved water quality criterion
for dissolved oxygen of 5 mg/1.
Downstream at RM 36.3, the quality of the Cache La Poudre River
had improved bioloeicallv. The fish population of this
reach included bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead and perch. However,
the minimum DO (3.7 mg/1) observed at this point was below the
dissolved oxygen standard established for a warm water fishery
(5.0 mg/1).
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DRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
The Cache La Poudre River upstream of Windsor, Colorado
(RM 26.5) had optimum conditions for the production of black
fly larvae (nearly 6,000 of the 6,730 organisms per square foot
were immature black flies) which indicated an organic enriched
stream. These larvae feed by filtering bacteria which totaled
more than 4,000/100 mL The dissolved oxygen
concentrations at this station were near or rbove saturation
levels.
Organic pollution originating primarily from feedlot runoff
and agricultural activities damaged the biota downstream of Windsor
(RM 17.9). Facultative and pollution tolerant bottom andmals were
prevelant in this reach and the fish population was composed pri-
marily of shiners and suckers. The dissolved oxygen concentrations
were near saturation levels.
The Cache La Poudre River at 6th Avenue in Greeley (RM 6.3)
showed the effects of several irrigation returns including Eaton
Draw. The dissolved oxygen concentrations were below saturation
levels but well above the dissolved oxygen standard of 5.0 mg/1.
The effects of the Greeley wastewater treatment plant were
evident at RM 5.3 and RM 0.5. For these stations, the average
BOD values and fecal coliform log mean concentrations had increased
to 10.1 mg/1 and 2,500 MF count/100 ml respectively. The water
had a characteristic smell of sewage and organic sludge beds
blanketed most of the stream boLtom. The benthos consisted of
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DRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
40
only four kinds of organisms and the sludge worms numbered over
22,000 per square foot. No game fish were collected from this
reach.
Water quality conditions were measured in the South Platte
River upstream and downstream of the confluence of the Cache La
Poudre River. The average BOD concentrations in the South Platte
River increased from 1.8 to 4.1 mg/1 as a result of the inflow from
the Cache La Poudre. The biological quality of the river was de-
graded somewhat at the upstream station. Because of high flows
only six kinds of benthic invertebrates were collected with a
density of 74 per square foot. Of these, approximately equal
portions were tolerant and sensitive forms. Fish populations in
this reach consisted entirely of non-game species such as long
suckers, minnows and carp. At the downstream station, the South
Platte River became polluted as a result of the Cache La Poudre
inflow (i.e. , the minimum DO value observed upstream of the Cache
La Poudre was 7.2 mg/1 and that downstream was 2.0 mg/1). High
flow conditions again prevented adequate chemical and biological
sampling, but the numbers of coliform bacteria in the water were
excessive and the total coliform bacteria numbered 33,000/100 ml,
while fecal coliforms numbered 2,000/100 ml. Because the high
flows had washed away the organic sludge from the banks, the density
of organisms was recorded at only 62 per square foot. However,
pollution tolerant sludge worms increased to 37 percent of the population
and intolerant forms decreased to 3 percent.
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
41
In summary, the water quality conditions observed in this
survey were similar to those observed during the summer of 1965.
Water quality in the Cache La Poudre River has not substantially
improved since the 1965 studies.
C. Water Quality Survey - December 6-7, and December 13-15, 1971
A limited water quality survey was conducted on the Cache La
Poudre River from just upstream of the mouth of Eaton Draw down-
stream to the confluence to ascertain the effects of sugar beet
mill waste discharges on water quality (Tables 9 and 10). Water
quality data were also collected on the South Platte River upstream
and downstream of the Cache La Poudre confluence and of Eaton Draw,
the latter being collected during the period November 30-December 4,
1971. The waste effluent loads from the Greeley wastewater treatment
plant and the Great Western Sugar mill were also determined.
The Cache La Poudre River at the background station (RM 7.0)
just upstream from the mouth of Eaton Draw indicated that bacteri-
ological conditions (fecal coliform log mean concentration of 150
MF count/100 ml) were well within the recommended standards established
by the State of Colorado (Table 10). However, the BOD concentrations
at this station range from a low of 3 mg/1 to a high of 30 mg/1
(Table 9). The high values are most likely anomalous. The DO con-
centrations at this station were above saturation levels during the
daily sampling conducted.
Eaton Draw (November 30-December 4) had an average BOD concen-
tration of 4 mg/1 and at the background station upstream of the
Great Western Sugar nxl! at Eaton. Quality conditions in the draw
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
41
In summary, the water quality conditions observed in this
survey were similar to those observed during the summer of 1965.
Water quality in the Cache La Poudre River has not substantially
improved since the 1965 studies.
C. Water Quality Survey - December 6-7, and December 13-15, 1971
A limited water quality survey was conducted on the Cache La
Poudre River from just upstream of the mouth of Eaton Draw down-
stream to the confluence to ascertain the effects of sugar beet
mill waste discharges on water quality (Tables 9 and 10). Water
quality data were also collected on the South Platte River upstream
and downstream of the Cache La Poudre confluence and of Eaton Draw,
the latter being collected during the period November 30-December 4,
1971. The waste effluent loads from the Greeley wastewater treatment
plant and the Great Western Sugar mill were also determined.
The Cache La Poudre River at the background station (RM 7.0)
just upstream from the mouth of Eaton Draw indicated that bacteri-
ological conditions (fecal coliform log mean concentration of 150
MP count/100 ml) were well within the recommended standards established
by the State of Colorado (Table 10). However, the BOD concentrations
at this station range from a low of 3 mg/1 to a high of 30 mg/1
(Table 9). The high values are most likely anomalous. The DO con-
centrations at this station were above saturation levels during the
daily sampling conducted.
Eaton Draw (November 30-December 4) had an average BOD concen-
tration of 4 mg/1 and at the background station upstream of the
Great Western Sugar mill at Eaton. Quality conditions in t'pe draw
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 9
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND AMALYTICAL RESULTS
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER SURVEY
DECEMBER 6-7, 13-15, 1971
Map
No.
Station Description
Flow pH Cond.
Avg. S.U. vrahos/co Tenp. °C
CFS Range Range Range Avr.
Total
D.O mg/1 7. Saturation Alkalinity mg/1 SOD ng/1 TCC ing/1
Range Avr. Range Avg. Range Avg. Range Avr. Rani.e Avg.
South Platte River
at Kersey, Colorado.
(RM 246.5)
7.5-7.8 1300-1560 0-2.5 < 1 7.7-9.1 8.3 64-79
71
209-300 254
16-50 28
82-100 94
South Platte River
one mile upscream
of niouth of Cache
la Poudre River.
2SO-O
Cache la Poudre
River near mouth
at Davis Ranch.
(RM 249.0/0.5)
7.4-7.8 1300-1500 0-2 < 1
8.9-10.0 9.4
74-86
79
244
244
20-37 29
81-98
89
144 — 7.4-7.8 1400-1700 0.5-5.0 4 5.1-7.1 6.3 48-63 57 259-284 271 30-145 73 97-183 131
Cache la Poudre
River downstream
of Greeley waste-
water treatment
facility.
(RM 249.0/5.3)
Cache la Poudre
River at 6th Ave.
in Greeley.
(RM 249.0/6.3)
132 7.6-7.9 1050-1700 0-3.5
(est)
122 7.8-8.1 1000-1800 0.0-2.5 <1
(est)
8.2-9.6 9.0
10.6-12.1 11.0
72-81
78
21-48 33
89-108 94
250-257 253 6-60
27
85-120 104
75-99 S3
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 9 (Continued)
SUMMARY OF FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS
CACHE LA T'GvJDRE RIVER SURVEY
DECEMBER 6-7,13-15, 1971
Flow pH Cond.
Map Avg. S.U. viDhos/cm Temp. "C
No . Station Description CFS Range Range Range Avg.
P.O. nig/1 % Saturation
Range Avg. Range Avfe.
Total
Alkalinity rcg/1
Range Avg ¦
BOD ms/1
Range Avg.
TOC rrq/l
Avg.
15^
l&i/
17^
Cache la Poudre up-
stream o£ Eaton Draw.
(RM 249.0/7.0)
Eaton Draw at mouth.
(RM 249.0/6.9/0.1)
Eaton Draw downstream
of Eaton wastewater
treatment facility.
{RM 249.0/6.9/6.5)
Eaton Draw upstream
froQ Great Western
Sugar Company.
(RM 249.0/6.9/7.2)
111-'
22.5
6.0
(est)
1.8
7.5-S.O 1300-1725 0-2.5 < 1
7.8-8.3
7.8-8.2
1500-1850
1450-3000
4-8
15-19 18
8.0-8.3 1400-1520 2-7
10.6-12.7 11.1 89-96 91
9.1-10.0
J.0-4.0
8.3-10.5
94-109
35-40
78-115
242-252 247 3-30 14 72-95 82
324-351 335 12-18 14 9-11 10
266-395 350 12-36 26 . 7-ly 13
341-363 353 2-7 4 5-10 8
1/ These stations sampled during the period November 30-December 4, 1971.
21 Gaging points.
¦o-
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 10
RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES AT SELECTED STATIONS
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER SURVEY
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1971
Dates
Sampled
Station Description
South Platte River
at Colo. 37 bridge
north of Kersey at
USGS gage.
(RM 246.5)
South Platte River
at highway bridge 1
mile upstream mouth
of Cache la Poudre
River.
(RM 250.0)
Cache la Poudre River 12/6,7,
just upstream of 13,14,15
mouth, at Davis
Ranch.
(RM 249.0/0.5)
Cache la Poudre 12/6,7,
River downstream 13,14,15
of Greeley waste-
water treatment
plant at highway
bridge.
(RM 249.0/5.3
Total Coliform
MF Count/100 ml
Fecal Coliform
MF Count/100 ml
Fecal Streptococcus
MF Count/100 ml
Maximum Lor Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum
12/6,7, 1,000,000 >160,000
13,14,15
12/6,7, 960,000 140,000
13,14,15
59,000 72,000 15,000
48,000 36,000 4,300
1,500,000 >180,000 50,000 1,000,000 19,000
1,400,000 47,000
4,900 150,000 3,400
4,400 520,000 95,000
890
33,000 11,000
200 1,500,000 19,000
12,000
4,800
4,800 1,400,000 420,000 260,000
2,600
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CRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
TABLE 10(Continued)
RESULTS OF BACTERIAL ANALYSES AT SELECTED STATIONS
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER SURVEY
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 19 71
Total Coliform Fecal Coliforra Fecal Streptococcus
Map Dates MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 ml MF Count/100 r.'.l
Key Station Description Samples Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum Maximum Log Mean Minimum
5
Cache la Poudre
River at 6th Ave.
bridge in Greeley.
(RM 249.0/6.3)
12/6,7,
13,14,15
3,700
1,900
660
650
220
120
3,900
1,900
1,100
6
Cache la Poudre
River upstream of
the mouth of Eaton
Draw.
(RM 249.0/7.0)
12/6,7,
13,14,15
3,800
1,800
1,100
690
150
50
2,600
1,500
600
15
Eaton Draw at
mouth.
(RM 249.0/6.9/0.1)
11/29,30
12/1,2,3
720
500
360
18,000
6,800
2,900
16
Eaton Draw down-
stream of Eaton
wastewater treat-
ment facility.
(RM 249.0/6.9/6.5)
11/29,30
12/1,2,3
8,900
1,700
780
130,000
47,000
16,000
17
Eaton Draw upstream
from Great Western
Sugar Factory.
(RM 249.0/6.9/7.2)
11/29,30
12/1,2,3
> 6,000
> 920
180
98,000
16,000
4,200
-E-
Ol
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DRAFT REPORT
OR INTERNAL USE ONLY
deteriorated downstream of the Great "Western Sugar mill discharges
and the Eaton wastewater treatment plant. BOD concentrations varied
from 12 to 36 mg/1 and the DO ranged from 0.3 to 4 mg/1 at this
station. The quality of Eaton Draw improved somewhat at the mouth,
with the DO concentration ranging from 9 to 10 mg/1, and a fecal
coliform log mean concentration of 500/100 ml. Flow measurements
at the background station (RM 7.2) and at the mouth (RM 0.1) in-
dicated the flow had increased from about 2 cfs to 23 cfs.
The Cache La Poudre River downstream of Eaton Draw (RM 6.3)
was fairly good from a bacteriological standpoint (fecal coliform
log mean concentration of 220 MF count/100 ml). However, the BOD
concentrations at this point varied from a low of 6 mg/1 to a high
of 60 mg/1 during the sampling period. The dissolved oxygen levels
were above 10 mg/1 on all days of the survey.
Downstream at the next station (RM 5.3) the effects of the
Greeley wastewater treatment plant were evident. The average BOD
concentration was 33 mg/1 (range 22-48 mg/1). The Greeley plant
was discharging about 10,000 pounds of BOD per day during the
survey.
The Cache La Poudre River at the mouth was severely degraded
in terms of bacterial and chemical parameters. The log mean
fecal coliform concentration was 1900/100 ml and the BOD concen-
tration varied from 30-145 mg/1. The DO level was 7 mg/1 or less
during all days of the survey. This station reflects the combined
effects of the Greeley wastewater treatment plant and the Great
Western mill serpentine ditch (35,000 pounds BOD per day).
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DRAFT REPORT
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The South Platte River at Kersey, Colorado (RM 246.5) shows
the bacterial effects of the Cache La Poudre River inflow.
The log mean fecal coliform concentrations increase 300 percent
at this station over the concentrations observed justupstream from
mouth of the Cache la Poudre River (RM 250.0).
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY A8
VI. EFFLUENT CRITERIA
A. APPLICABLE REFERENCE GUIDES
1. Beet Sugar Industry
Reference guides for this industry were developed by
personnel of the Environmental Protection Agency (Research and
Monitoring Division) ; data were obtained primarily from existing
Environmental Protection Agency grants to the industry as well as
from a "state of the art" document prepared by the Beet Sugar Develop-
ment Foundation under a grant from the Environmental Protection
Agency. The reference guides were generally accepted at the Environ-
mental Protection Agency Technical Review Meeting in July and a
meeting with industry representatives in September resulted in an
"informal agreement" in which the industry spokesman stated that
the numbers for pH, BOD and suspended solids were technically achiev-
able by the 1973-74 campaign. The reference guides are as follows:
BOD^ 0.50 lbs/ton beets sliced
Suspended Solids 0.50 lbs/ton beets sliced
pH 6.0-9.0
Fecal Coliforms 75 x 10^ organisms/ton beets sliced
COD 0.90 lbs/ton beets sliced
The COD value is subject to change as additional data on C0D:B0D
ratios are obtained. Receiving water requirements are of course
understood to prevail if they dictate more stringent values.
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DRAFT REPORT
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49
2. Steel Industry
Reference guides are being developed for the steel industry but
would not apply to the particular industry (Lone Star Steel) in this
basin because the industry has only a cooling water discharge. The
cooling water is not from a power generation facility and any refer-
ence guides for this latter industrial group would also not apply.
3. Fish Hatcheries
No reference guides were developed for fish hatcheries under the
original contract; a subsequent contract will be awarded for the
seafood industry and hatcheries may be included as a sub-category
of this study.
4. Water Treatment Plants
No reference guides were developed for water treatment plants
under the original contract; it is felt that a suspended solids level
of 30 mg/1 and a pH range of 6.5-8.5 is a good representation of secon-
dary treatment for these discharges.
B. RECEIVING WATER REQUIREMENTS
An evaluation of the adequacy of the suggested effluent limitations
detailed in the reference guides is necessary to determine whether compli-
ance with water quality criteria will be achieved. If water quality criteria
are not met, greater reductions of waste must be required of each waste
source receiving a Refuse Act permit. The parameters of concern in the
Cache La Poudre River Basin are dissolved oxygen (D.0) and coliform concen-
trations .
According to 1971 data, 2 major D.0 depressions (utilizing the lowest
values observed) occur downstream of Fort Collins ?nd Greeley, respectively.
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DRAFT REPORT
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50
Low flow conditions (seven-day - ten-year low flow) were examined in the
Cache La Poudre River for the period 1961-1970. The seven-day - ten-year
low flow downstream of Fort Collins is 24 cubic feet per second (cfs)
before receiving waste from the two municipal plants. Waste loads from
the municipal plants were predicated on a minimum 85 percent removal being
achieved and typical de-oxygenation rates for domestic sewage. The com-
bined five-day BOD loading to the river is 1780 pounds per day with a
residual stream BOD^ of an additional 260 pounds per day. Calculations
were made on a temperature of 10°C and a reaeration coefficient derived
from Churchill's formula and based on stream hydrological characteristics.
The minimum DO which would occur is about 8.7 mg/1 or well above the
approved criterion of 5.0 mg/1. At 20°C (summer conditions) with constant
hydrological characteristics, the low DO is approximately 6.5 mg/1. With
efficient operation and attainment of 85 percent removal efficiencies at
the Fort Collins municipal plants, water quality criteria will be met with
an adequate reserve for evaluation of future industrial installations in
the area.
The same procedures were utilized to determine the expected low DO
downstream of Greeley. In this instance, the seven-day - ten-year low
flow occurred in a different year than the value used at Fort Collins.
The flow just above the Greeley wastewater treatment plant (KM 5.6 approxi-
mately) was estimated at 10 cfs. At a temperature of 5°C and assuming 85
percent removal efficiency at the Greeley municipal plant as well as 0.5
pounds of five-day BOD per ton of sugar beets processed at the Great Western
plant, the low DO would be about 6.1 mg/1 (at 10 cfs plus waste flows of
approximately 24 cfs). At 10°C the expected low DO is 4.7 mg/] . This is
above the presently approved criterion of 3-0 mg/1. However, if the
criterion below Greeley is upgraded to 5.0 mg/1 as is now presently
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DRAFT REPORT
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51
the situation in the remainder of the Cache La Poudre River, greater
waste removal requirements will be necessary to assure compliance. The
waste discharge permit for the Great Western plant at Greeley should be
re-evaluated if water quality standards are revised. Furthermore,
the municipal treatment plant is grossly overloaded due to wastes received
from the Monfort Packing Company. Thus, even with 85 percent removal, the
effluent is significantly higher than what could be expected from plants
receiving municipal wastes alone. Pre-treatment requirements amounting
to 85 percent reduction should be imposed for the Monfort Packing Company
wastes.
The Great Western plant at Eaton, Colorado, is providing satisfactory
treatment at this time. The five-day BOD discharged from this plant is
approximately 0.25 pounds per ton of beets processed per day. If the
municipal treatment plant consistently removes 85 percent of the five-day
BOD, no problems with respect to meeting the DO criterion should be
expected.
No evaluation was made downstream of Windsor, Colorado, since it is
impossible to postulate at this time, the magnitude or composition of
wastes to be expected from the expansion at the Eastman Kodak plant. Rigid
pretreatment requirements should be imposed at this source to insure
compliance with water quality standards.
With respect to coliform concentrations, water quality criteria are
presently being exceeded in the Cache La Poudre River and in the South
Platte River due to inadequate disinfection at municipal sources and no
disinfection from organic waste sources. If the projected permit require-
ments for industrial sources are accomplished and if municipal sources
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DRAFT REPORT
FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
provide adequate operation and maintenance, coliform concentrations
will be reduced to background levels sufficient to meet water quality
criteria.
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DRAFT REPORT
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53
VII. PERMIT RECOMMENDATIONS
Suggested permit conditions and rationale for the major discharges
in the Cache La Poudre River Basin are as follows:
1. Water Treatment Plants
Special conditions for these discharges will essentially consist
of the following:
Flow As reported plus 10%
Suspended Solids 30 mg/1
pH 6.5-8.5
The above criteria will force the plants to provide neutralization
where necessary as well as sludge removal. The slight increase in
flow will minimize requests for new permits if minor expansions occur
in the future.
It is suggested that permits be issued for a period of 6-18
months depending on the status of the individual municipalities'
construction plans with an automatic extension to five years if the
above criteria are complied with.
2. Flatiron Gravel Company, Greeley-Windsor & Fort Collins
It is suggested that the special conditions reflect the present
reported discharge rates and water quality with approximately a ten
percent expansion in the limitations on these parameters. This will
allow a degree of flexibility which will minimize requests for new
permits if minor expansions in pumpage rates occur in the future.
Although reported values of suspended solids are less than 30 mg/1,
a limitation of 30 mg/1 will be imposed in case future operations pdck
up unusua] amounts of suspended matter.
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It is suggested that analyses be conducted monthly during
dewatering operations.
It is suggested that permits be issued for five years.
3. Fish Hatcheries
The following limitations will be imposed as special conditions
for hatcheries unless unusual water quality conditions are observed.
Parameter Maximum Allowable
Flow Reported maximum value
COD 15 mg/1
TSS 25 mg/1
NH3-N 0.3 mg/1
N03-N 0.3 mg/1
Phosphorus - P 0.3 mg/1
The flow limitation eliminates the possibility of dilution of the
discharges.
All of the above values are in excess of those reported in most
of the hatchery applications. They represent levels which are presently
considered the equivalent of secondary treatment by Region VIII. It
is also felt that compliance with these values will present no signifi-
cant impact on water quality.
The ammonia level is the point at which methemoglobinemia occurs
in fish.
The nitrate level is above those reported by the hatchery appli-
cants and is much lower than the 4.0 mg/1 toxic level.
The phosphorus level is above that reported by most hatcheries.
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A program to monitor compliance with permit requirements should
include the sampling regime summarized below.
Parameter
Units
Frequency
Type Sample or
Measurement
Flow
gal/day
Quarterly
Observations
hourly for 8
hours.
COD (normal operations)
mg/1
Quarterly
8-hour composite
COD (raceway cleaning)
mg/1
Quarterly
Composite
TSS (normal operations)
mg/1
Quarterly
8-hour composite
TSS (during raceway
cleaning)
mg/1
Quarterly
Composite
Ammonia Nitrogen
(as N) (normal
operations)
(during raceway
cleaning)
mg/1
mg/1
Quarterly
Quarterly
8-hour composite
8-hour composite
Nitrate (as N)
(normal operations)
mg/1
Annually
8-hour composite
Phosphorus (as P)
(normal operations)
mg/1
Annually
8-hour composite
Total Coliform
(normal operations)
(raceway cleaning)
organisms/
100 ml
organisms/
100 ml
Annually
Annually
Grab Sample
Grab Sample
It is recommended that permits be issued for five years.
4. Lone Star Steel Company, Fort Collins
It is suggested that the following limitations apply to the
discharge as part of the special conditions of the permit.
Flow 33,000 gal/day maximum
Temperature 80°F Maximum
70°F Quarterly Average
Hazardous or Toxic Materials No Discharge
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Since the discharge is minor and has no effect on water quality
standards, the above restrictions are designed to allow the discharge
to continue and actually increase to a certain extent without the
need to reapply for a new permit.
An additional condition to be included is a statement to the
effect that the discharge shall be limited to the addition of heat
only. This prevents the inclusion of any process wastes.
It is recommended that the permit be issued for a period of 5
years.
5. Great Western Sugar Company, Eaton
As previously mentioned, the mill recycles its flume water and
the October data show that its discharges are well within the suggested
reference guides with the possible exception of the fecal coliform
densities observed in outfalls 002 and 003. If these discharges
are eliminated reference guides are complied with. As data from the
latter stages of the campaign are reported, an increase in discharge
levels is anticipated. Nevertheless, the discharges are still expected
to be below the reference guide levels.
The following suggested limitations are based on an estimate of
what the mill's discharges will be near the end of the campaign. They
are more stringent than the reference guide since it is felt that if
an existing discharge is superior to the reference guides, a relaxation
in requirements should not be allowed. If, however, data for November
and December show values approaching the reference guides, the numbers
should be revised accordingly. Limits above the reference guide will
of course not be allowed.
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It is suggested that the following limitations shall apply to
the Eaton Mill as part of the special conditions on their permit.
1. BOD^ discharges shall not exceed 0.30 pounds per ton of
beets sliced or 600 lbs. per day whichever is less^ or COD
shall not exceed 5.4 lbs. per ton of beets sliced or 1080
lbs. per day whichever is less.
2. Suspended solids discharges shall not exceed 0.30 pounds
per ton of beets sliced or 600 lbs. per dajj whichever is
less.
3. The number of fecal coliform organisms shall not exceed
75 x 106 organisms per ton of beets sliced or 150,000 x
10 organisms per day whichever is less.
4. The pH shall be between 6.0.and 9.0.
5. Any discharges of accumulated wastewater at a later date
shall be at a discharge rate which will not exceed the
above values based on the average daily tonnage sliced
during the previous campaign. Total discharge during and
after a campaign shall not exceed the above factors multi-
plied by the total tons of beets sliced during the campaign.
Discharge from outfalls 002 and 003 will not be allowed for more than
6 months after the date of issuance of the permit.
Implementation of the above criteria will force the mill to
eliminate discharges 002 and 003 not only because a permit will not
be issued for them but the fecal coliform limitation will not allow
them to add the wastes from outfalls 002 and 003 into discharge 001.
It is suggested that the following monitoring schedule be
included as a special condition of the permit.
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Parameter
Frequency of
Collection
Frequency of
Measurement
Flow Rate
pH
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(bod5)
Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD)
Total Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Ammonia (as N)
Nitrate (as N)
Fecal Coliform
Temperature
Not Applicable
Hourly for 8 hours
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
Grab Sample
Grab S ample
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-week]y
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly-
Bi-weekly
Note: 8-hour composite should be considered as one sample collected
hourly for 8 consecutive hours and composited in proportion to the
flow rate. Samples must be properly preserved.
It is recommended that a permit be issued for a period of six months
with an automatic extension to two years from the date of issuance
if the above conditions are complied with.
6. Great Western Sugar Company, Greeley
An exact evaluation of the water quality degradation caused
specifically by the Greeley mill itself is difficult because of
the effect of the discharge from the overloaded Greeley municipal
waste treatment plant and of the potential drainage from feedlots in
the area. The BOD increment contributed by the feedlots is unknown,
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but the Greeley municipal plant contributes more than 10,000 lbs
of BOD as shown in Section I.
It is recommended that the following limitations apply to the
Greeley mill as part of the special conditions of the permit.
1. BOD^ discharges shall not exceed 0.5 lbs per ton of beets
sliced or 1070 lbs/day, whichever is less, or COD shall
not exceed 0.9 lb/ton of beets sliced or 1930 lbs/day,
whichever is less.
2. Suspended solids discharges shall not exceed 0.5 lb/ton
of beets sliced or 1070 lbs/day, whichever is less.
3. The number of fecal coliform organisms shall not exceed
75 x 10 organisms/ton of beets sliced or 160,000 x 10
organisms/day, whichever is less.
4. pH shall be between 6.0 and 9.0.
5. If wastewaters are accumulated for discharge at a later
date, daily discharge shall not exceed the above values
based on the average daily tonnage sliced during the
previous campaign. Total discharges during and after a
campaign shall not exceed the above factors multiplied
by the total tons of beets sliced during the campaign.
The above criteria are, of course, the reference guides for this
industry. Implementation of these values will force the mill to
recycle its flume water, diligently control the entrainment of its
condenser water, and probably eliminate any discharges of boiler
ash.
It is suggested that the following monitoring schedule be in-
cluded as a special condition of the permit.
During the beet sugar campaign, each discharge shall be moni-
tored for the parameters listed below at the stated frequencies.
Discharges following the campaign shall be monitored according to
the following schedule but no less than two samples should be
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obtained if the discharge occurs for less than a two-week period.
Parameter
Frequency of
Collection
Frequency of
Measurement
Flow Rate
PH
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(bod5)
Chemical Oxygen Demand
and Total Organic Carbon
Total Solids
Total Suspended Solids
Ammonia (as N)
Fecal Coliform
Temperature
Not Applicable
Hourly for 8 hours
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
8-hour Composite
Grab Sample
Grab Sample
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Bi-weekly
Note: 8-hour composite should be considered as one sample collected
hourly for 8 consecutive hours and composited in proportion to the
flow rate. Samples must be properly preserved.
It is recommended that a permit be issued for a period of six weeks
with an automatic extension to too years if the above criteria are
complied
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VIII. ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
1. Discharges "Unreachable" Under the Present Law
The best example of this is the Great Western sugar mill at
Greeley, Colorado. It has been suggested that a permit be issued
which will require them to meet the reference guides for the industry.
There is some question about whether this is adequate for the receiving
water conditions. However, significant pollutants are entering the
same reach of stream from a municipal plant providing inadequate
treatment and from feedlots in the area; these latter two sources
are of course largely exempt from the Refuse Act under the present
rules and regulations. Should unusually stringent controls be placed
on one industry while others, contributing the majority of pollution
in the area, are not pursued?
2. Irrigation Reservoir Flushing
A typical example of this problem is Seaman Reservoir which is a
man-made water collection reservoir on the North Fork of the Cache La
Poudre River. It was built for and is owned and operated by the City
of Greeley, Colorado. The river above the reservoir periodically
carries considerable silt. The reservoir acts as a natural settling
basin'for these solids. The solids can only accumulate to a certain
point before they must be flushed- Therefore, periodically the
reservoir must be drained and the silt that has been collected, flushed
down the stream. This concentrated dose of suspended solids visually
affecLs the quality of the stream and it is suspected that there is
considerable harm to the aquatic life as well.
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The solids are going to settle in this reservoir no matter what
is done. Dredging is impossible. Discharge during high flow, more
frequent flushing to minimize any one dump, or a combination seem to
be the most obvious solutions presently.
Do discharges of this type come under the Refuse Act?
3. Seepage
It is currently not known how serious a problem this is; it is
obvious, however, that as more industries close their systems, it
will come to the forepoint.
A classic example occurs at a sugar mill which has "closed" its
system by retaining its water in a pond. However, a ground-water
interception ditch exists near the pond which picks up flow (probably
a great amount from the pond) by accretion and subsequently discharges
to a stream. No application was filed for this discharge since it
carries only "ground-water accretion."
A. Pre-treatment
The Eastman Kodak Company operates a dry film cutting and packaging
facility near Windsor, Colorado. Present waste discharges consist only
of sanitary sewage which is treated in the municipal lagoons at Windsor.
Plans call for the eventual addition of processes which will generate
organic loads. These materials may include toxic substances which will
reduce the efficiency of the biological treatment system which presently
treats the plant sewage. The permit for Kodak should be applicable
only to sanitary wastes and should specify that pre-treatment of process
wastes will be required as a condition for issuance of a permit for
discharge of the industrial rarAes. The pre-treatment critei ia wi]l
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will be determined upon notification by the Company, of the nature
and quantity of the wastes which are to be discharged.
The wastes from the Monfort of Colorado plant constitute a BOD
load of 16,000 lbs which is in excess of the plant capacity. The
total daily BOD load to the Greeley plant is over 30,000 lbs per day.
To be consistent with the effluent requirements for the Great Western
sugar mill which is required to limit its discharge to 0.5 lbs BOD/ton
of beets (1070 lbs/day) the Greeley waste treatment plant would need
to operate at a better than 95 percent removal efficiency, plus provide
adequate disinfection. Pre-treatment of the Monfort wastes to a level
which is consistent with raw domestic sewage (i.e., 200 mg/1) would
significantly increase the ability of the Greeley plant to meet dis-
charge requirements consistent with those for the Great Western mill.
In order for the BOD levels in the Monfort wastes discharged to
the Greeley plant to be comparable to those in untreated domestic
wastewater, approximately 85 percent BOD removal would be required in
the pre-treatment process. At this level of prc-treatment by Monfort,
the Greeley wastewater treatment plant would be required to operate
at a minimum efficiency of 87 percent.
5. Industrial Expansion
The waste loads to be discharged to the Cache La Poudre River,
and its tributaries, if criteria specified herein are met will provide
for modest expansion at existing plants or for limited waste discharges
by new industries, without serious impairment of quality in the streams.
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DRAFT REPORT
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REFERENCES
1. 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, Decem-
ber 1967.
2. U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration, South Platte River
Basin Project, Report to the Second Session of the Conference
in the Matter of Pollution of the South Platte River Basin.
April 27, 1966.
3. 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 Novem-
ber 10, 1966.
4. State of Colorado, Department of Health, Water Pollution
Control Commission, Water Quality Standards for Colorado.
1970.
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