May 3, 2024

From The Archives: An Automated Way to Deliver Clean Water

Fifteen years ago this month, crews from Northern Water installed a new piece of equipment that has improved the ability to deliver clean, high-quality water to communities in Boulder County.

Located just northeast of Lyons, the automated trash rack has allowed crews from the Northern Water Distributions Systems Department to remove the debris that invariably gets into the St. Vrain Supply Canal. After floods and wildfires, the canal can sometimes see a large volume of debris enter its waters, and if it were to pass further downstream, it could create damage to water infrastructure.

The mechanism filters out large debris and uses a motor to lift it to a waiting trailer for safe disposal. Before its construction such removal could be a lengthy and arduous process.

The construction of the automated trash rack is another way in which Northern Water crews are continuing to improve a project that in most areas is about 75 years old.

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Lyons trash rack uses a motor to filter and lift large debris into a waiting trailer for safe disposal.