County, Rangely

Major progress seen in water and sewer system in Rangely

| bob lange photo | Present for an April 22 tour of the White River Intake Pumping House, were, from left: city employee Mark Chillson, Town Trustee Lisa Hatch, Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristin Steele, Town Trustee Andrew Shaffer, Mayor Frank Huitt, Mayor Pro Tem Brad Casto, Town Manager Peter Brixius and Water Utilities Supervisor Alden Vanden Brink.
| bob lange photo |
Present for an April 22 tour of the White River Intake Pumping House, were, from left: city employee Mark Chillson, Town Trustee Lisa Hatch, Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristin Steele, Town Trustee Andrew Shaffer, Mayor Frank Huitt, Mayor Pro Tem Brad Casto, Town Manager Peter Brixius and Water Utilities Supervisor Alden Vanden Brink.
Rangely’s Water and Sanitation Department prepares drinking water and treats wastewater released back to the White River. It is a complex system that requires a significant investment in time and money.
During the past five years, about $5 million have been invested in the intake, treatment plant, storage, delivery, pollution control systems and discharge site, Town Water Utilities Supervisor Alden Vanden Brink said.
Facing outdated infrastructure and limits on the capacity, Rangely has steadily improved almost every aspect of the system. First was the replacement of impeller pumps that sit in a well house fed by an intake on the White River above Douglas Creek.
When the river is high it can contain more sediment and when it is low it may have more organics, Vanden Brink said.
Depending on natural variations in the White River, taste and odor issues can occur.
“Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and sediment are the biggest treatment problems we have,” he said.
There have been a few times when White River was low enough to threaten the ability of the plant to operate at normal capacity. Rangely has been fortunate to not have a prolonged drought, since there is no storage for town water supply in Kenny Reservoir.
Water from the White River is pumped from the intake well house to settling ponds on the south side of Highway 64. Sediment suspended in the river water falls to the bottom of the ponds and is periodically cleaned out with heavy equipment.
During the busiest time of the year, such as July and August, water continually moves through the system. Settled water from the intake ponds is piped to the treatment plant or the golf course.
Domestic water has been supplied to Rangely during all renovation phases, making construction complicated. Maintaining a constant water supply was accomplished by duplicate systems, which allow units to be taken off-line for servicing or refurbishing.
Recently completed treatment tanks sit parallel to older tanks. When one aspect of the water system is completed, it is time to redo another part of the system.
“Like the ugly kitchen remodel, you never know what you will find until you get into it,” Vanden Brink said.
Renovations are designed to last 20 to 30 years, but there is continual maintenance performed by five city workers, he said, adding that newer equipment has led to fewer maintenance tasks, such as rebuilding intake pumps.
“But, we are far from being done replacing infrastructure and equipment,” Vanden Brink said.
The treatment plant will have a total capacity of 4.2 million gallons per day (MGD) after the current renovations are complete, he said.
Treatment plant tanks use chemicals called flocculants and mechanical mixers to help bind small particles into aggregates that can be filtered out. Particles can be organic such as left over pieces of river plants, algae and nutrients (TOC and nutrients) or might be inorganic, made up of small pieces of soil or salts (sediment).
Aggregated particles that don’t settle to the bottom of a collection basin are removed using a filtration tank with activated carbon. The carbon is an anthracite coal and can last 15 years when back-flushed one to two times per week. There will be three filtration tanks when the current construction phase is complete.
The last step of water treatment is a chemical process that involves chlorinating the water to kill any bacteria and adding fluoride for public health. Every stage of the process is electronically controlled, monitored and water is continually tested to ensure it is safe.
Federal and state drinking water requirements and administration needs, such as billing, are accomplished by another four workers. The vigilance of water utility workers protect the integrity of Rangely’s water system.
The treatment plant has a second set of six pumps that move treated water to four storage tanks located at high points around Rangely. The water tanks can store up to 72 hours of normal water use and are used to help maintain pressure in the distribution system.
Much of the water used by homes and businesses in Rangely becomes wastewater, and pollution must be removed before it is released back to the river. Pollutants such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals are added to water as it is used in kitchens, sinks, showers, bathtubs and toilets.
Not all the pollutants are removed. Instead they are controlled, meaning they are brought to acceptable levels. The primary function of pollution control consists of breaking up and processing large particles into smaller particles.
“Pollution control is the business of bugs,” Vanden Brink said.
Bacteria and algae fed by oxygen are used to consume organics and break down materials so they can be removed or released in the form of gases like methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, he said.
In industry terms, the strength of sewage is measured in biological oxygen demand (BOD). BOD is the amount of oxygen the bacteria and algae need to break down organics into their chemical elements.
“Ninety-five percent of the BOD can be treated with the pollution control measures in place,” Vanden Brink said. Treatment ponds are lined to protect groundwater and consist of aeration and mixing equipment with the goal to “keep the bugs happy.”
Ponds can last up to 20 years before they need to be cleaned out,” he said. “The leftover solids can be disposed of in a landfill or, with precautions, can be used in land reclamation since the solids are high in nutrients.
A recently installed diffusion system made up of four pipes in the deepest part of the main channel discharge treated water back to the river making the cycle complete.
“Water is a precious commodity, an enormous amount of effort goes into keeping it flowing,” Vanden Brink said.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
  • The winning teams and individuals for the 18th annual White River Community Association Buy-Fly Fishing Tournament are as follows. Individual top weight catch was Dave Metrovich and longest fish was Kevin Massey. First place team won by Rio Blanco Abstract: Erik Eckman, Adam Parrett, Dave Metrovich and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Second place team was Drake Consulting: Travis Kaiser, John Douglas, Tony Bartolomucci and Bob Brandeberry. Third place team Mr. Rogers and the Hood (accepted by Doug Rogers) Gary Rogers, Mark Beauchamp, Kyle Schutte and Rick Gunter. The white fish have been frozen and will be served at the annual White River Community Association fish fry fundraiser in June.
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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View on Instagram |
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Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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