By Dawn Weller

Redstone Review

LYONS – Jonathan Todd, one of the leaders in developing ecological waste water treatment systems and cutting edge water purification technology, toured Lyons on Oct. 17 and did a public presentation on his Eco-Machine technology for the public at the town board meeting.

Todd’s systems look like greenhouses. In Todd’s power point presentation, people were seen touring several of the facilities where it was obvious there was no odor and the places were lush with plants.

Todd was asked to talk to the town about his eco systems because the town is exploring options for the old waste water treatment plant in town.

The Sustainable Futures Commission, SEC, hosted two workshops to explore options for the aging wastewater treatment plant located on Second Avenue. More than 30 people crammed into the morning session at the Stone Cup. About the same number attended the evening workshop at Town Hall.

Earlier this year, the Board of Trustees requested the Utilities and Engineering Board, UEB, to explore the alternatives to upgrade or replace the treatment plant, built in 1976, as it nears end of life. Options developed (in tandem with consulting firm JVA) are: upgrade and/or rebuild the plant its current site; build a new facility at a new location; buy wastewater treatment services from Longmont, which would include building the infrastructure to move our wastewater to their facility

Steve Wratten, chair of the UEB, asked the BOT to look at the issue from a strategic perspective.   That is, does Lyons want to be in the wastewater treatment business? Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen outlined two sites at the Cemex location that could be considered. However, a key constraint for both the existing and a new plant is its location in relation to the flood plain. Regulations in this regard may exclude or limit site alternatives.

In Wratten’s presentation he gave some rough cost estimates for three scenarios for fixing the waste water treatment plant. Option 1 to build a new plant would cost around $12.93 million; option 2 to upgrade the current plant would be $14.2 million and to run a pipeline along the rail road easement behind Cemex and hook up to the Longmont waste water system would run around $14.74 million. Todd said that those numbers sounded very high. He said that he thought that he could build a system for the town for less than half that amount.

Coco Gordon from the Sustainable Futures Commission arranged for Jonathan Todd to visit Lyons and tour the treatment plant and site options. Todd gave an overview of the Eco-Machine wastewater design philosophy pioneered by John Todd Ecological Designs. This wastewater solution mimics the natural purification process provided by streams, ponds, and wetlands.  By constructing specialized wetlands of plants, bacteria, algae, and other organisms, the wastewater is remediated into high quality water. Eco-machine wastewater treatment systems are designed to be cost-effective, renewable, environmentally beneficial and aesthetically pleasing.

The Board is still actively exploring options. Todd stated that he will provide a summary report of findings and opportunities for an eco-machine solution. Mayor Julie VanDomelen requested the UEB to work with the regulatory bodies to determine what the flood plain requirements and implications are for treatment plant location. Watch for continued exploration of these issues and options at Utilities and Engineering Board, Sustainable Futures Commission, and BOT meetings.

Dawn Weller is in charge of communications for the Sustainability Futures Commission. She lives with her family in Lyons

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