Case Study: Green Infrastructure Options in the Chatfield Watershed

Virridy begins studying Chatfield Watershed for the Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority

 

In July 2023, Virridy began a new collaboration with Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority (PCWRA) to study an innovative approach to wastewater compliance and watershed restoration. PCWRA provides essential wastewater services to over 100,000 ratepayers in the Castle Rock region of SW Denver, Colorado. The facility expanded in 2019 to be able to discharge a maximum of 9.44mgd  to nearby Plum Creek, which drains into the Chatfield Reservoir, located on the South Platte River.

PCWRA is expecting to be required to reduce levels of phosphorus, nitrogen and temperature in its discharge by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment in upcoming permits, and has begun to study what facility upgrades may be required to do so. Preliminary projections are that PCWRA will need to add an enhanced BNR upgrade, microfiltration and a double reverse osmosis process for phosphorus and nitrogen reductions, and cooling tower for temperature reductions.

Plum-creek-crop

Comprehensive Compliance Options Analysis

In the coming months, Virridy will be conducting a comprehensive compliance options analysis. We will examine the full lifecycle emissions impact of a range of projected facility upgrades, and compare them to the emissions benefit of reducing nutrient runoff and solar loading in both Plum Creek and the South Platte River. Our approach will involve looking at measures such as livestock fencing (and off-channel watering facilities), riparian restoration to develop more stream shade, sustainable on-field practices like cover cropping, irrigation upgrades, small edge-of-field wetlands, and large-scale natural treatment wetlands.

Importantly, we will calculate the amount of carbon credits that could be generated through a new carbon crediting methodology which allows project developers to compare greenhouse gas emissions impacts of different options and monetize that difference if a utility selects the lower-carbon option. This methodology is currently in expert review with Regen Registry. This financial incentive would reduce the costs of a watershed compliance program, while also clearly demonstrating the projected air quality impacts of potential upgrades.

 

Plum Creek
Plum Creek
Existing PCWRA facility
Existing PCWRA facility

Vital Data To Make Informed Compliance Decisions

Our objective is to deliver this analysis to the team at Plum Creek within a few months, providing them with the vital data they need to make informed compliance decisions. This innovative collaboration underpins Virridy's mission to transform the water treatment industry through carbon financing, empowering our clients to make financially and environmentally responsible choices that also holistically enhance the health of their local watersheds.

Authority Manager for PCWRA Weston Martin says of the new project:

“We at PCWRA are excited to be embarking on this work with our contractor Virridy. We believe this analysis could redefine the way we approach our responsibilities, turning challenges into opportunities. The potential to leverage carbon finance and watershed compliance is an exciting frontier. We're committed to learning more about how this new model could benefit not just our operation, but the overall health of the watershed we serve."

Financial and Ecological Benefits

Virridy CEO Dr. Evan Thomas adds,

“We're thrilled to be working with Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority on this pioneering initiative. Through this analysis, we aim to demonstrate that carbon finance and environmental compliance can go hand-in-hand, delivering both financial and ecological benefits.

We believe this innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the industry, and it perfectly aligns with Virridy's mission to drive positive change in water management practices."

Virridy’s work has been made possible by a critical grant by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, as well as a pre-purchase carbon credit commitment by M.A. Mortenson Companies.

Chatfield Watershed
Chatfield Watershed