Employee Spotlight -
Biotreatment Area reclaims 200 Million Gallons of water
Protecting one of Colorado's most precious resources
Left to right - Plant operators Marty (Ernest) Aragon, Michael Mendell and supervisor Jeff Cloward
The efficient management of the system by our Biotreatment team has dramatically conserved water, which is a precious commodity in Colorado and downstream western state users.
PCAPP has reclaimed almost 200 million gallons of water during operations, and this wouldn't be possible without the team that keeps the Biotreatment Area (BTA) running. The effort by the PCAPP team to optimize the system has paved the way in operating the most efficient water recovery system in the United States.
The BTA starts with hydrolysate from the plant that is the result of neutralizing the mustard agent with hot water.
Microbes, along with a mixture of chemicals and more water, digest and further break down the solution. PH level is monitored while the microbes consume the hydrolysate and either caustic or bicarbonate is added when necessary.
The water then goes into the Brine Reduction System (BRS) system which uses heat to separate salts from the water.
The recycled water is then sent back into the plant to be used and what remains are various salts which are disposed of off-site.
The team that helps keep this amazing system running are some of the original employees who helped get the BTA started!
The salts that remain are stored in large roll-off dumpsters to be transported off-site.
Marty (Ernest) Aragon is a Plant Operator at PCAPP and has worked there for over 15 years and enjoys new and challenging work.
He worked during the construction phase of PCAPP and liked seeing how the plant operated after it was built.
Marty is most proud of, “… being part of the team that helps keep the plant running.”
Marty Aragon giving a tour of the
Brine Reduction System
Michael Mendell is another Plant Operator who also began working during the construction phase and has been there for about 11 years.
Michael enjoys how much there is to learn and that, “… there is always room to grow and better yourself.” He is most proud of, “… working as a team and helping each other learn.”
Jeff Cloward is a supervisor in the BTA and has been at PCAPP for 10 years. He enjoys challenges, whether it is trouble shooting systems or working with his operators. “I seem to gain knowledge every day. Things always change, it’s not the same day in and day out.”
Jeff is most proud of “Training and watching my operators advance in system knowledge and grow as a team working together.”
Nearly 200 million gallons of water have been recovered through the PCAPP biotreatment process! The efficient management of the system by our Biotreatment team has dramatically conserved water, which is a precious commodity in Colorado and downstream western state users. Our operations, maintenance and engineering teams have continuously improved the system to recycle greater than 99% of the water, well above the design target of 80%.
