It sounds like something needs to be done to bring Durango’s wastewater up to snuff for the health of the Animas. I believe the city should consider an old fashioned technique using combined sewers in conjunction with the biological actions and disinfection routinely done at the plant. Combined sewers also would treat the up-to-now unmitigated storm water coming off the city streets and parking lots.
Although unpractical in areas of high rainfall, Durango’s high-desert amounts may be a good fit for this type of system. Grease, oils and animal waste would all be treated at the plant, greatly minimizing the non-point source pollution that enters the river currently, resulting in a greatly reduced trash and pollutant load. It may not even be necessary to capture a whole rain event but just the first flush that contains the highest percentage of pollutants. “Stormcepter” technology, with its expensive retrofits, becomes unnecessary with this. And don’t forget, the treated water may come in handy for a multitude of re-uses!
James T. Lynch
Bayfield
