Since 2019, the Aqua Talk blog has been a hub for the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to relay important information to drinking water operators, decision makers, and system representatives.
The WQCD will now seek to broaden those efforts by also making sure this space is an information hub for wastewater professionals as well!
With that in mind, we wanted to provide the following resources and updates from the Clean Water Program:
- A tutorial has been created for applying for the Domestic Discharges to Surface Water Permit. We realize the permit application can be complex, so last year we contracted Indigo Water Group to create this tool to help applicants better understand the application’s complexities. This should help make applications more complete and correct, leading to fewer issues for stakeholders.
- WQCD has contracted with CRWA to develop and deliver test prep and cyber/physical security trainings free of charge to water professionals. Check their site for upcoming announcements on when these trainings will be scheduled and where at https://crwa.net/!
- The WQCD offers Quarterly Clean Water Webinars (Clean Water being the half of the division that deals with waste water, storm water, ground water, surface water, etc). These webinars are open to the public and the next one is scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The Division’s Local Assistance Unit (LAU) has expanded to include a Clean Water Coach, Joe Sturgeon (joseph.sturgeon@state.co.us). He delivered the Wastewater MRT at the CRWA Conference in March and will be working with the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Water Works Association (RMSAWWA) over the next few months to deliver talks on Operator Ethics at their Action Now events. If you're interested in attending check their website at https://www.rmsawwa.org/action-now to see if an Action Now event is coming to a town near you!
Please keep watching this space for more information that’s geared towards wastewater systems! We’ll have more information available on trainings and other goings on at the division soon.
➽ Joe Sturgeon, Clean Water Training Specialist, Local Assistance Unit
