[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E862-E863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      METRO WASTEWATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT LOGS 10 PERFECT YEARS

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                           HON. BOB BEAUPREZ

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2005

  Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important 
accomplishment in Colorado. The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District 
earned its second consecutive Platinum Award from the National 
Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA, formerly the Association of 
Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies) for its second consecutive five-year 
period without a single numerical violation of its discharge permit.
  The award was presented May 1, 2005 at NACWA's 35th Anniversary 
Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
  According to NACWA, earning two back-to-back Platinum Awards has been 
achieved by only five other wastewater treatment agencies

[[Page E863]]

in the country. Two Platinum Awards represent 10 perfect years, during 
which the Metro District has discharged almost 530 billion gallons of 
treated, high-quality water into the South Platte River and completed 
more than 100,000 chemical and biological analyses that verify there 
were no permit violations.
  The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District's 345 employees have every 
right to be proud of this accomplishment. It places them among the 
elite protectors of the environment in the nation.
  These accomplishments result from the efforts of many. The District 
has an outstanding maintenance department, a well-engineered plant, 
great support groups, and management who always strive to do the best 
for their ratepayers. They also have a dedicated operations staff that 
continually gives examples of their ability to get things done no 
matter what the challenge.
  The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District serves approximately 1.5 
million people. Its service area includes most of metropolitan Denver 
and encompasses 380 square miles, including all of Denver and parts of 
Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties. Arvada, Aurora, Lakewood, 
Thornton, and part of Westminster are included.
  The Metro District collects and treats about 130 million gallons of 
wastewater a day at its 185 million-gallon-a-day Central Treatment 
Plant five miles northeast of central Denver. This plant is the largest 
wastewater treatment facility in the Rocky Mountain West.
  Formed under Colorado law in 1961, the Metro District provides 
wholesale wastewater transmission and treatment service to 57 local 
governments, including both cities and sanitation districts in 
metropolitan Denver. The Metro District began treating metro Denver's 
wastewater in 1966.
  NACWA implemented the National Environmental Achievement Awards 
program in 1983 to recognize the excellence that was occurring 
routinely at many wastewater treatment agencies across the country.

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