We’d like to take this opportunity to share an update from Fort Collins Utilities Water Quality Services Division – this message is also being shared with our business customers who rely on water quality for their operations.
Yesterday, 5/18, the first “post-wildfire runoff event” was detected versus the typical spring runoff. The river sensors picked up the signal at the Rustic location with a high turbidity value of about 70 NTU*, and at the River intake with a value of about 80 NTU. As is typical with storm-driven events, the pulse subsided and values are starting to return to our runoff baseline. Utilities staff was working to clear sediment and reset the readings from that sensor.
Also confirmed this morning, the NTU moved into the mid-80s at the intake with the peak of the slug being around 4:00 a.m. The good news is the intake facility and pre-sediment basin were able to reduce the NTU to the low teens. The treatment process is also doing a robust job of removing the NTU. We’re currently treating a 60% Poudre/40% Horsetooth blend, which is really good for this time of year as it is typically closer to ~30% from the Poudre River.