Town ‘Pump Replacement’ Project Addresses Sewer System Reliability

The Pagosa Springs Area Sanitation General Improvement District (PSSGID) has been working to address performance issues related to the pumping conveyance project. The Town Council, which serves as the board for the PSSGID, has an agreement with the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) that began several years ago. The agreement is to collect and transport the PSSGID customers’ wastewater and pump it through a series of lift stations to the Vista Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment by PAWSD.

Unfortunately, the original design has proven challenging, and the original pumps continued to fail at unusual rates.

Last year, the PSSGID obtained a $400,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to install a new type of pump provided through Pentair Fairbanks and to retrofit the existing infrastructure at both larger pump stations. The total project cost is roughly $850,000 and is close to completion.

The consulting engineer on the project, Rick Goncalves of RG and Associates, Inc., explained to the PSSGID Board/Town Council on August 2 that one train was installed at each of the two larger pump stations and that so far, the pumps were performing well with adequate flows.

“We are hopeful this will address the issues with the pump conveyance system, and we can breathe a little easier,” said Town Manager Andrea Phillips. “We will continue to monitor the performance of the new pumps.” In the meantime, the PSSGID will continue preparations for emergency backup options, such as lining an emergency overflow area by Pump Station One (at the south end of the old sewer lagoon property) in case of pump failures in the future.

Additionally, the District has installed a manual bar screen to collect non-disposable items from the waste stream. These items can clog the pumps and damage them, leading to equipment failures.

Citizens can play an important part in ensuring that nothing besides human waste and toilet paper goes down sink drains and the toilets. Though marketed as sewer safe, flushable wipes still get wrapped around equipment and cause clogging. Fats, oils and grease from cooking also cause damage to expensive system equipment. Feminine products and other items should not be flushed either.

Please, help us keep our new pumps and sanitation system in good shape, and Don’t Flush That!

You can sign up for the Town’s monthly newsletter at the Town website.

Post Contributor

Post Contributor

The Pagosa Daily Post welcomes submissions, photos, letters and videos from people who love Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Call 970-903-2673 or email pagosadailypost@gmail.com