Oftentimes, members of the public only consider their water access and wastewater treatment when something negative happens. If there’s a spill or if a barrier breaks down, etc. That’s why it’s important to highlight wins when we see them.
Our common goal under the Clean Water Act, passed by Congress in 1972, is to have waters that are “Fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.” The work to meet this crucial goal continues every day in Colorado’s Water and Wastewater facilities, and facilities across the country.
The work of water professionals is a vital part of public health, and we must celebrate the outcomes that enhance the quality of our water. We all work to promote the health of our fellow citizens, our local animal populations and the environment we all share.
It’s for that reason that we wanted to share one of the biggest public health victories in the US from this last year: for the first time in five decades, the New York State Department of Health announced that people can safely consume fish from the Lower Hudson River. After 50 years of catch-and-release mandates due to severe PCB contamination, decades of rigorous remediation efforts, testing, and dedicated wastewater management have finally restored this stretch of the river to a fishable state.
- Read more about the recent advisory changes directly from the New York Department of Public Health.
We also have incredible ecological and environmental protection success stories happening right inside our treatment facilities here in Colorado.
A prime example is the collaborative effort between local wastewater providers and the CDPHE Water Quality Control Division through the Voluntary Incentive Program (VIP). Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can wreak havoc on local ecology, causing harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen, kill off aquatic life, and complicate drinking water treatment downstream.
Instead of waiting for strict regulatory mandates to force compliance, Colorado wastewater facilities are utilizing the Voluntary Incentive Program to proactively upgrade their treatment processes. By voluntarily reducing nutrient discharges early, these local operators are actively protecting the delicate ecology of Colorado's lakes, streams, and rivers while also ensuring safer, cleaner sources of drinking water.
Wins, like the Hudson River cleanup, and our state's proactive nutrient reduction, don't happen by accident. They result from continuous monitoring, facility innovation, and the daily dedication of water and wastewater professionals committed to their communities. It is a powerful reminder of why our work matters.
- Learn more about how Colorado facilities are leading the charge on nutrient reduction through the CDPHE VIP Program
➽ Joe Sturgeon, Clean Water (Wastewater) Coach, Local Assistance Unit
