Water Quality Information
Where Does Our Water Come From?
Brighton is the largest municipality in the State of Colorado to provide 100% of its drinking water from alluvial wells. An alluvial well is one which pumps water from a shallow aquifer, approximately 50 to 60 feet below the surface. The water in the alluvium comes from seepage of irrigation canals, ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Most of Brighton's drinking water comes from alluvial water in the South Platte River Basin, and a portion of the water is pumped from wells just below Barr Lake in the Beebe Draw Alluvium.
Brighton is the largest municipality in the State of Colorado to provide 100% of its drinking water from alluvial wells. An alluvial well is one which pumps water from a shallow aquifer, approximately 50 to 60 feet below the surface. The water in the alluvium comes from seepage of irrigation canals, ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers. Most of Brighton's drinking water comes from alluvial water in the South Platte River Basin, and a portion of the water is pumped from wells just below Barr Lake in the Beebe Draw Alluvium.
Groundwater is, generally, very clean and pure, and lacks many of the contaminants that can be found in surface water as soils can act as a natural filter. Human activity, such as chemical applications used in farming, can effect groundwater supplies. As Brighton is located in a historical farming area, high nitrates can be found in alluvial groundwater supplies, which is a direct result of agricultural fertilizer use.
You can help to protect our water supplies by limiting the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and outdoor chemicals. Remember, anything that is poured onto the ground or in the streets has the potential for reaching the alluvium due to seepage of stormwater.
Water seeps into the alluvium from irrigation ditches, rivers, ponds, and storm events. Wells pump the water from the alluvium and it is piped to the Water Treatment Plant before being sent into the distribution system.
How Is Our Water Treated?
 Reverse Osmosis Filtration |
Reverse Osmosis Treatment Process
 RO Membrane |
This is an example of one of the Reverse Osmosis Membranes that has been cut in half so that the inside can be seen.
Well water is pumped through the membranes as shown in the diagram below. The purified water is blended in calculated amounts with well water so as to add back needed minerals for taste and health purposes.
The contaminents, or brine, that has been removed by the RO Membranes is disposed of.
 Diagram of Reverse Osmosis Treatment Process |
Greensand Filtration Treatment Process
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Well water from the Beebe Draw Alluvium, which is just north of Barr Lake, does not need to be treated by the Reverse Osmosis System as it is not high in nitrates. It does have high manganese however, and therefore is treated by our greensand filters. The water drawn from the Beebe Draw Alluvium is blended with the Reverse Osmosis water after it is treated in the greensand filters. All water leaving the plant is disinfected with chlorine before it is sent to the distribution system.
