Background
The Upper Thompson Sanitation District was formed in 1971 to provide water treatment services to the areas surrounding the Town of Estes Park and to improve the water quality of the Big Thompson River.
The plant and collection lines were built with Federal, State, and local funding at a cost of approximately $5.5M. The plant was brought online in 1976, providing service to areas of the Estes Valley which were previously without adequate water treatment. Since that time, we have effectively managed the water treatment, through three major floods and a fire evacuation.
What We Do
The UTSD Team
The District is staffed with 17 permanent employees: five administrative personnel, five in the collection department, and seven operators at the treatment plant. A State of Colorado Wastewater Certification is required for all collection and plant personnel.
![Team Member Checking Readings](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/Team-member-checking-readings.jpg)
![Team Member Checking Dials and Other Indicators](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/Team-member.jpg)
The District policies and operations are overseen by a Board of Directors elected by the voters within the District.
The Upper Thompson Sanitation District treatment facility is a tertiary (or three-stage), advanced treatment process. When the plant was constructed, it contained several innovative technologies, making it one of the most advanced treatment facilities at the time.
This facility was built to treat a flow of 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD), and a peak hydraulic flow of 3.75 MGD. Over 99% of the solids and pollutants in the wastewater are removed. In the fall of 2000, a new secondary clarifier was constructed, adding operational flexibility and increased plant capacity to 2.0 MGD.
![Board Meeting Discussion](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/UTSD-Board-Meeting-Discussion.jpg)
![Team Member Working in the Field](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/UTSD-Team-Member-Working.jpg)
Protecting
Our most precious resource.
From maintenance of the wastewater collection system infrastructure to test treatment facility effluent, fieldwork is essential to the protection of our sensitive waterways.
![Protecting our most precious resource; From maintenance of the wastewater collection system infrastructure to testing treatment facility effluent, field work is essential to the protection of our sensititve waterways.](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/Protection_0.jpg)
Testing
And reclaiming the water of the Estes Valley.
This is home. We Treat it right. From testing to treatment, one of the primary functions of USTD is the monitoring of harmful constituents in the wastewater.
![Testing and reclaiming the water of the Estes Valley; From testing to treatment, one of the primary functions of UTSD is the monitoring of harmful constituents in the wastewater. This is home. We treat it right.](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/Testing_0.jpg)
The systems of the treatment facility.
Comprehensive oversight of treatment processes and systems. Operating the diverse states of collection, treatment, and disinfection requires daily maintenance of the complex facilities.
Managing
![Managing the systems of the treatment facility; The systems of the treatment facility. Comprehensive oversight of treatment processes and systems. Operating the diverse states of collection, treatment, and disinfection requires daily maintenance of the complex facilities.](/sites/utsd/files/Managing.jpg)
Customer Service
Providing oversight and strategic planning of the district's assets.
Serving over 4300 households and overseeing 96 miles of collection systems infrastructure. Providing reliable, high-quality, cost-effective wastewater collection and treatment services.
![Customer Service providing oversight and strategic planning of the district's assets. Serving over 4300 households and overseeing 96 miles of collection system infrastructure.](https://utsd.colorado.gov/sites/utsd/files/CustomerService.jpg)