Wastewater Treatment
WHY THIS PROJECT IS VITAL?
- CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT MEETING STATE REQUIREMENTS
- NEED SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR GROWTH
- CANNOT STAY OPEN WITHOUT THIS
- TIMELINE HAS BEEN SET TO COMPLETE BY SUMMER OF 2025
PROJECT OVERVIEW
For many years IdRaHaJe has operated with aging septic tanks and leach fields. This infrastructure is regulated by Park County and the State of Colorado. Of course, over time, Park County and Colorado regulations have become increasingly stringent. We have known for some time that a system update would be in our future.
In 2020, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) advised IdRaHaJe that our septic permit needed review. After a full review, it was recommended that an engineer’s survey of our septic system would be required to make advisements about how to upgrade our current septic treatment and meet the current regulations.
Our engineers and CDPHE advised that we will need to move from septic leach fields to a wastewater treatment facility. While we know this will be the best plan for our environment and our camp, this upgrade will be costly to build. Now we are on a timeline to put in sewer main lines and begin work on a wastewater treatment facility. To meet the CDPHE regulations, we need to begin this process now so that we can have the project completed before summer 2025.
By the time you are reading this article, we hope to have some of the collection system mainlines in the ground already. All the camp buildings will be hooked to these lines once the treatment facility is completed. The main lines will take a significant time to install, but they are the lower cost portion of the project. The lion’s share of the project will be the actual treatment facility that will eventually be installed in the valley near the office. The facility is currently being designed to be both efficient and meet compliance requirements. We have included some pictures of the facility to give you a better idea of what it will look like.
THE PROBLEM
Over the last 75 years, the need has always been present, to deal with the wastewater created by lots of kids and staff – eating, worshiping, playing, and staying on site. As time goes on and we have grown as a ministry, the amount of wastewater has increased, and State and County regulations have become more stringent. It has been a blessing to have more campers here and the increased regulations, while challenging, are a good thing to improve water quality for the future. During 2020, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) asked us to have an engineering firm evaluate our wastewater situation and determine the next best steps. Based on the evaluation, CDPHE is requiring us to install a wastewater treatment facility to manage our sewage so that we can operate within the regulation guidelines. Without this addition to the ministry, we will not be able to continue to utilize the camp to share the gospel.
VISION TO FIX IT
At IdRaHaJe, we have decided that we want to use this great place for ministry for as long as we can, therefore, the board has decided to move forward with building a Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection system. While this project is not very glamorous on the surface, it is vital to allow us to continue having camp. Kids need camp! We don’t want this infrastructure issue to become the thing that limits us from sharing the gospel in the years to come. We have decided to step forward in faith that the Lord wants us to keep IdRaHaJe open by undertaking this $5 million project. That is why we are launching the “Stepping Forward” campaign. Through this campaign, we will be able to fund our new Wastewater Treatment Facility that will provide the necessary treatment to meet the CDPHE requirements for wastewater quality. CDPHE is giving us some time to get this necessary improvement completed but the timeline that has been set for us is to have the sewer collection and the wastewater treatment facility completed by late spring in 2025 before summer camp begins.
OUR INVITATION
We want to share the message of Christ here at IdRaHaJe for as long as possible. Since the inception of this ministry, faithful partners have always jumped in to help when they have seen a need! We are in need of this Wastewater Treatment facility as the next step in helping us minister for the next several decades. You can get involved by praying for the Lord’s hand in this project, making a gift to the “Stepping Forward” campaign and by sharing this exciting opportunity with others who want to impact kids for Christ.
Will you help us Step Forward in faith and join in this project?
