Rawhide is operated
as a zero-liquid discharge facility and all water and storm water
used in the generation process is managed
on-site. This
unique system saves water and minimizes the threat of pollution.
Most of the water stored in the 500 surface acres Hamilton Reservoir
is used in Rawhide's
closed-loop cooling cycle. Water flows from the reservoir into the
plant where it is used for cooling steam. The temperature of the
water increases
during the process before it is discharged back to the reservoir
to be used again.
Hamilton reservoir is underlain by naturally occurring
highly impermeable clay and shale strata that minimizes seepage, although,
due to the arid conditions, some evaporation does occur.
The majority of
the water stored in the reservoir is secondary-treated effluent originating
from the City of Fort Collins
Drake Water Reclamation
Facility. This "reused" water is transported to Rawhide
through a 26-mile long, 24-inch diameter pipeline. Before the water is
released
to the reservoir it goes through an on-site treatment process where additional
impurities are removed. This use of wastewater effluent in place of higher
quality water frees up resources that benefit local communities.
