Long-term Economic and Environmental Sustainability for Utilities

Evaluation continues for building long-term economic and environmental sustainability to include a whole new set of ecological issues never envisioned by the Clean Water Act, such as the impacts of climate change, drought, and growing nutrient impairments combined with unprecedented economic and infrastructure pressures affecting utilities both operationally and economically.

Significant steps taken by Broomfield include water reuse, water conservation, green infrastructure codes, and the use of technology to improve greenhouse gas reduction as part of the wastewater treatment facility upgrade.  Additionally, Broomfield's forward-thinking includes participating in national and state-wide emerging contaminant monitoring and working with nationally recognized experts in evaluating asset management, specifically condition assessment tools and analytical tools for predictive failures.

Addressing and preparing for these challenges

Utility Workforce Issues

Public Works developed a five-year staffing plan based on regulatory mandates, obligations, and critical operations needs. The plan included analyzing workflows, procedures, service levels, and opportunities for efficiencies and organizational structure changes.

Peer-to-Peer Learning

Participates in regional, state and national stakeholder organizations to continue addressing emerging challenges.

Technology

Incorporating automation, sensors/monitoring devices and analytical tools to improve operational and management efficiencies. 

Energy

Broomfield Utilities is working to improve energy efficiency and planning renewable energy generation and integration as part of the wastewater treatment facility upgrades.

Watershed Approaches

Urbanization has increased the variety and amount of pollutants carried into streams, rivers, and lakes. It has also increased stormwater runoff from 10% to 55%. This is a critical step in addressing stormwater runoff as it is not treated before entering local water bodies.

Water Reuse and Recycling

Climate change and drought have made water an even more precious resource, especially in the West and Southeast regions of the country. Broomfield’s use of water reuse will only grow in importance. 

Climate Change and Resiliency

There may be no more significant challenge facing the municipal clean water community over the coming decades than climate change. Changing precipitation patterns and more extreme weather events are already upending years of planning and infrastructure investment based on historical data. It is critical to Broomfield’s utility sustainability to continue developing resiliency planning and ensuring staff is prepared to address these unpredictable conditions.  

Green Infrastructure

A cost-effective tool in managing stormwater is using stormwater/water quality ponds and basins to increase the precipitation and intensity of storm events resulting from climate change. While also providing other ancillary community benefits (wildlife), maintenance of these ponds is vital to ensure their effectiveness.