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RECESS A brief recess was called by Mayor Meier. <br />WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL <br />CONSULTANTS Hundley related to Council that this item was <br />prompted by the City's need to upgrade its <br />wastewater treatment plant. The water quality <br />standards that apply to Coal Creek are stringent <br />and could requirE~ advanced secondary treatment <br />which would great]_y increase the cost. Lafayette <br />is entering into a similar situation and the <br />argument that they are making is that Coal Creek <br />is an intermittent. stream and its characteristics <br />are similar to several other streams in Colorado <br />which have had those requirements waived. <br />Staff is asking Council approval to conduct a <br />study by Western Environmental Consultants to gage <br />water flow during the summer months to determine <br />its intermittent character, and also, to look at <br />its habitat and the fish in the stream to use as a <br />basis for evaluating whether those standards <br />should be changed. If these standards are not <br />changed, the City is looking at a very expensive <br />proposition, possilbly double the total cost of the <br />wastewater treatment plant. <br />If authorized, this joint study would cost the <br />Town of Erie $500, the City of Lafayette $1500, <br />and the City of Louisville $1500. <br />Also a petition was received by the City for <br />Council's endorsement. The petition is to the <br />Water Quality Control Commission for the change of <br />those standards. This must be acted on fairly <br />quickly as the de<~dline for setting a hearing is <br />July 1, 1985. <br />Steve Williamson elaborated by explaining that the <br />Water Commission included the numeric standards on <br />ammonia as a footnote and the City of Louisvi 1 le <br />has not met consistently those standards that are <br />the law - now or ever - nor has anyone else <br />effected by. Nor has there been any enforcement <br />of the standard. The non-enforcement has been <br />pursuant to the commitment of the three <br />dischargers to study the appropriateness of <br />reclassification a.nd modification of the numeric <br />standards for the stream. There is adequate data <br />available now on stream flows and chemistry for <br />the Commission to proceed with the modifications. <br />The one remaining Element necessary is the habitat <br />study and is a supplemental phase of the study <br />that the City ha:~ authorized and paid for and <br />requested by thE, Water Commission and will <br />complete the foundation for the proceedings. <br />7 <br />