The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division is developing an approach to manage nutrients in Colorado waters. The primary driver for this effort has been an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directive to reduce nutrients in waters under jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The Division's proposal to control the discharge of nutrients relies largely on a technology-based control regulation that would establish effluent limits for both total phosphorus (TP) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) for many domestic and some nondomestic wastewater treatment facilities that become subject to the control regulation will have to invest in capital improvements and ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.
From the turn of the century through 2008, fewer Coloradans died of cardiovascular disease. Although fewer were dying of heart disease and stroke, more Coloradans were developing the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure is pervasive, obesity rates have doubled and too few Coloradans get the nutritious food and physical activity needed to keep their hearts healthy. Research shows that social, economic and environmental factors have a significant impact on health outcomes.
