Press Releases
Grant Awarded to Protect Water Quality In Colorado Springs Neighborhoods
Colorado Springs, CO (June 28, 2011) – The Colorado Brownfields Foundation awarded an Environmental Cleanup Grant to El Paso County to repair and restart water treatment operations at the former Templeton Gap Landfill near the Norwood neighborhood in the northeast part of Colorado Springs. Groundwater at the site is being impacted by contamination leaching from the landfill which is currently under state cleanup order. Residents of Colorado Springs utilized the landfill facility for several decades prior to its closing in 1980.
The site is producing landfill gas and water percolates through the landfill potentially impacting groundwater which flows off the site past nearby homes. The technical assistance grant provided by the Colorado Brownfields Foundation refurbished a water treatment system at the former landfill site. Repairs were made to an ozone sparging unit which is once again effectively mitigating ground water pollution at the property line. There is also a venting system which exhausts landfill gas to avoid a buildup of explosive methane. Both of these pollution control systems need to run in perpetuity to ensure long term environmental protection.
Colorado Brownfields Foundation’s grant to the County has extended the life of the treatment system for an additional 3 to 5 years. With limited funding, the Colorado Brownfields Foundation is working with various community stakeholders to find a long-term environmental stewardship solution for the site. Long term environmental stewardship solutions being considered are a methane resource recovery system and a solar power facility.
Colorado Brownfields Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit organization dedicated to removing environmental obstacles to economic and community development. CBF partners with communities, local governments, other non profits, and commercial enterprises to help reuse and redevelop brownfields sites.
Media Contact: Shirley Esher
303-962-0941
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