South Platte Renew (SPR) is the third largest water renewal facility in Colorado and it is proactively helping the ever-increasing challenge of wastewater treatment through its unique approach to innovation.
The Pilot and Research Center (PARC) Program is a utility-driven strategic organization that focuses on partnerships with industry investors and physical infrastructure that expands access for research, development and testing of new technologies in real-world environments.
“The PARC infrastructure houses a series of piped process flow connections where partners can easily hook up to, removing barriers and allowing innovation to occur seamlessly,” said Anna Schroeder, Engineering Manager, South Platte Renew. “PARC facilitates pilot-level projects that allow for the experimentation and validation of cutting-edge methods and equipment before full-scale implementation.”
PARC seeks to transform the resource renewal industry by building a pilot testing and research program known for advancing innovative, sustainable technologies. Its goal is to help SPR meet evolving regulations while minimizing costs for ratepayers, strengthen its workforce, foster long-term industry partnerships and support the local community through education and environmental stewardship.
Project Goals
The PARC project was fully initiated on July 5, 2023 but the development started on May 1st, 2020. In collaboration with a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) delivery method, SPR hired a design engineer, Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. and PCL Constructors, Inc. as the contractor.
Early collaboration allowed the team to uncover budget inaccuracies and use real-time pricing to refine design choices and lower project costs. As the design progressed, PCL contributed ongoing value engineering and constructability recommendations that shaped the final plan. Broad stakeholder involvement and a unified “one team” mindset fostered staff ownership, encouraged innovation and enabled the team to quickly resolve challenges during construction.
The PARC project’s goal was to create a pilot testing and research center designed to develop, test and refine innovative technologies for resource renewal and water treatment. By improving how new processes are evaluated and implemented, the project helps utilities adopt more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
The facility was designed with a strong focus on environmental consciousness and efficiency. It is able to facilitate the experimentation and validation of cutting-edge technologies that help optimize research usage within water waste treatment, enable the generation of additional revenue through valuable by-products like renewable natural gas and phosphorus recovery and also, minimize risk and enhance treatment efficiency before full-scale implementation.
“While the primary environmental benefit lies in the research and technologies PARC enables, its very existence is an environmentally conscious initiative, aiming to revolutionize the resource renewal industry and help utilities meet regulations with reduced environmental burdens,” said Schroeder.
It’s Impact
The PARC infrastructure profoundly impacts their community, while being widely recognized. During their first year of commissioning they have been connected with four pilot trailers ranging from mechanical screening technology to advanced water treatment for direct potable reuse. It stands as a testament to innovation and progression in the water sector by challenging the conventional approach of waiting for technology to mature before implementation. Instead, PARC has proactively paved the way for technological advancements through utility-driven innovation, setting a new standard in the field.
Now, the project is bridging the gap between technology development and real-world implementation. It gives partners the ability to remove barriers to innovation, making it easy for them to hook up and begin research seamlessly (on average, less than 20 minutes to start data collection).
Celebrating Innovation
The PARC team is proud of creating a culture of innovation by broadening their approach to create the value of innovation across the industry. By creating a site that provides multiple flow streams, flexible partnership criteria and an environment focused on industry advancement, the innovation creates history.
Staff at all levels were empowered to contribute, fostering a sense of ownership and directly supporting the project’s success. The final design met its primary goal by eliminating barriers to innovation through flexible process streams with adaptable flows, staying within budget costs and electrical capacity.
“Ultimately, PARC represents a pioneering effort that fosters innovation and exceeds user expectations, setting a new standard in the wastewater industry by providing a crucial platform for testing emerging technologies that previously lacked real-world testing opportunities,” said Schroeder.
The South Platte Renew, supports the water sector by accelerating innovation, reducing regulatory and financial risks for utilities, strengthening workforce expertise and promoting long-term environmental stewardship.
This feature appears in our January issue of American Infrastructure, read the print version here.
