Skip to Main Content
logo
A technician operates a large industrial reverse osmosis system with numerous pipes and gauges.A technician operates a large industrial reverse osmosis system with numerous pipes and gauges.

Sustaining water supply in East Cherry Creek Valley 

Facing drought and dwindling groundwater, a Colorado utility looked to pioneer a high-recovery reverse osmosis system that delivers sustainable, high-quality drinking water. 

Client

East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District

Location

Aurora, Colorado

Connect with an expert

Brown_Doug.jpg
Doug Brown PE, BCEE
Desalination Discipline Leader

Pioneering high-recovery treatment for lasting water security 

As population growth and persistent drought placed increasing pressure on its limited groundwater resources, East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District (ECCV) implemented an advanced four-stage reverse osmosis (RO) system that transforms brackish groundwater into a reliable, high-quality and environmentally responsible drinking water source for the future. 

Advanced reverse osmosis design 

A four-stage RO system achieves 94–96% recovery, far exceeding the 75–85% typical for brackish treatment systems. 

An innovative brine disposal strategy 

Two deep-injection wells safely pump the concentrate 10,000 feet underground, making ECCV a national pioneer in the method. 

Optimizing for cost efficiency 

At $2.80 per 1,000 gallons, water production costs are one-third of the industry benchmark for brackish RO facilities.

Expanding system resilience 

Facility expansion, automated cleaning processes and RO stages deliver long-term reliability and maintenance. 

ECCV’s high-recovery RO facility has set new performance benchmarks for municipal utilities, reducing brine volume by 70% while achieving sustainable supply for one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. “We had to bring all our past projects and R&D experience to figure out a way to make it work,” said Tim Rynders, our discipline leader for water treatment process and piloting.

Curious to learn more?

Connect with an expert to find out how we delivered this project.

Brown_Doug.jpg

Doug Brown

Environmental Engineer

Doug is a nationally recognized designer of innovative reverse osmosis systems, with experience designing treatment plants and associated infrastructure,

See more projects in this region

Aerial view of a water treatment facility with storage tanks and surrounding desert landscape.
Santa Fe County, New Mexico

Delivering reliable water supply to rural regions 

Aerial view of a water treatment plant
Arlington, Texas

Advancing biosolids solutions in Texas

Aerial view of a winding river cutting through a patchwork landscape of fields and farmland.
Minot, North Dakota

Building resilience after disaster in Minot

Glowing digital envelopes on a dark background, symbolizing email communication.

Stay up to date on advanced water treatment

We're committed to strengthening water supply portfolios where they are most needed today and will be tomorrow. Opt in to our newsletter to learn more.