City, state and federal officials gathered in Brighton Feb. 15 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

    The celebration, at the city’s Greensand Drinking Water Facility on Bromley Lane toasted 34 ARRA projects throughout the state directly benefiting from the funds, including the installation of a new, state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection system within the Brighton water treatment plant.

    EPA regional administrator Carol Rushin, whose territory encompasses six states, was on hand for the event and touted the year’s accomplishments.

    “With the signing of this American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, about 20 miles from here, the EPA is responsible for investing over $7 billion in shovel-ready projects that are protecting human health, safeguarding the environment and creating and safeguarding jobs in our nation’s communities,” she said, before turning the microphone over to Martha Rudolph from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

    “The staff at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was extremely diligent about identifying priority water projects, reviewing engineering designs, and working closely with the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority and the Department of Local Affairs to get these dollars out the door and into the economy,” Rudolph, the department’s executive director said. “Many of these projects have been on our list of identified projects for years and have significant infrastructure needs for the protection of public health and the environment.  Without Recovery Act funding and loan forgiveness the projects would not have been possible. These projects are moving forward quickly and will benefit tens of thousands of Coloradans.”

    According to Brighton spokeswoman Jodie Carroll, the city received about $1.4 million to install the UV disinfection system that will provide 34,000 Brighton residents with long-term, improved protection from bacteria, pathogens and other drinking water contaminants. Ultraviolet disinfection uses light to destroy pathogens, and their ability to reproduce, without treatment chemicals or large, expensive infrastructure. In an arid state such as Colorado, it is essential that water systems fully utilize sources with variable water quality to provide safe and affordable drinking water to the public.

     “We look forward to the Greensand plant beginning operations this spring with the improved water treatment system in place,” said Brighton Mayor Dick McLean. “Looking back about 20 years ago, we were compelled to recommend other drinking sources for pregnant women and children under the age of one because of our water quality. Today, we have excellent and safe water in our distribution system.  The funding and jobs stimulus provided by the Recovery Act are leveraging upgrades which will even further reduce the risk of harmful microorganisms and other contaminants to our residents.”

     The EPA has provided nearly $100 million to Colorado under the Recovery Act, which was signed by Obama in Denver Feb. 17. These resources are funding projects to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, advance cleanup at contaminated sites and leaking underground storage tanks, and retrofit diesel engines with clean diesel technologies across the state.

    Visit: http://www.epa.gov/region8/eparecovery/.