Altela partnered with the City of Boulder to upgrade its aging wastewater treatment plant. The goal was to increase capacity, improve the quality of treated effluent, and meet new, stricter environmental regulations. By implementing a cutting-edge membrane bioreactor (MBR) system, Altela enhanced the plant’s efficiency and provided Boulder with a sustainable solution that supports future population growth.
The MBR technology significantly improved the removal of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, resulting in cleaner water that exceeds environmental quality standards for discharge into local rivers.
With the upgraded system, the plant’s capacity increased by 40%, enabling it to handle higher volumes of wastewater while maintaining peak operational efficiency during population growth.
The new biological treatment process reduced energy consumption by 20% compared to conventional systems, lowering the city’s operational costs and carbon footprint.
The advanced treatment solution ensured compliance with the latest federal and state regulations, including stringent nutrient discharge limits, helping the city avoid potential fines and safeguarding its water resources.
This project involved a comprehensive upgrade to the City of Boulder’s municipal wastewater treatment plant, which processes a combination of domestic and industrial wastewater. The existing infrastructure was outdated and unable to meet the city’s growing demand or comply with new environmental regulations regarding nutrient removal.
Altela’s team designed a biological treatment system that integrates membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. This system combines biological treatment with advanced membrane filtration, allowing for the efficient removal of contaminants, including nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, that contribute to waterway pollution.
The new system was installed with minimal disruption to the city’s operations and was configured to handle future expansions. Remote monitoring tools were also integrated, enabling the city’s operators to maintain optimal system performance with predictive maintenance alerts.
The successful implementation of this project resulted in a significant reduction in nutrient pollution, making Boulder’s treatment plant one of the most sustainable and compliant municipal facilities in the region. This upgrade positions the city to manage wastewater sustainably for decades to come.