Providing a Reliable, Sustainable and Efficient Conveyance System

Wastewater from the First Creek Sanitary Basin in Aurora, Colorado, is conveyed to the Metro Water Recovery’s Robert W. Hite Treatment Facility in Commerce City, utilizing gravity and pumping. A 2017 Regional Master Plan proposed constructing a new interceptor to enable gravity-only wastewater conveyance from Aurora and neighboring communities to MWR’s new Northern Treatment Plant in Brighton. 

HDR provided preliminary design, final design and construction on various segments of the system. By selecting a gravity pipeline solution for the region, Aurora will improve the reliability and sustainability of the collection system and position for an economical connection to MWRD’s Second Creek Interceptor. Additional tasks included route analysis, hydraulic analysis, materials selection, extensive stakeholder coordination, coordination with multiple construction projects, trenchless installations, land acquisition, jurisdictional approvals, and environmental permitting.

The recently completed final segments of this gravity system, 1B, 1C and 1D, encompass approximately 21,300 linear feet of 42-inch-, 2,000 linear feet of 12-inch-, and 160 linear feet of 36-inch-diameter gravity interceptors. The depths of the interceptors vary from 12 to 40 feet and cross several municipal boundaries. The project included six trenchless crossings under creeks, sensitive areas, arterial streets, and a golf course. 

This project achieved its primary objective of providing a reliable, sustainable and efficient wastewater conveyance system and demonstrated exemplary engineering practices, construction practices and innovative solutions under challenging conditions.
The First Creek Interceptor project stands out due to its innovative design, use of advanced trenchless technologies, adaptive problem-solving during construction, and significant positive impact on the regional wastewater infrastructure. The project's successful execution exemplifies excellence in engineering and construction, setting a high standard for future infrastructure projects.