Infrastructure

The Infrastructure Department is responsible for the planning, design and inspection of the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). In addition, the department provides trash and recycling collection services, street maintenance, snow removal, traffic engineering services, and water and wastewater service.

Engineering Services

The Engineering Services Division includes CIP Engineering, GIS, and Survey. The CIP Engineering Section manages the design and construction of capital improvement projects such as streets, bridges, drainage, water, sewer, trails, and streetscaping. For Commercial and Residential Development, please refer to Development Engineering. The GIS is used to produce data and maps for meetings, presentations, mailings and other staff needs. The Survey Section provides surveying services and technical information to the CIP and Development Engineering Sections and other City departments. Those services include computer drafting, geographical information system, topographic surveys, legal descriptions, plat reviews, and floodplain determinations. 

Environmental Services (Trash and Recycling)

Environmental Services provides automated curbside refuse and recycling collection services to single-family homes in the City. This division is operated by the City as an enterprise fund, meaning that all costs associated with the operation are covered by user fees.

Street Operations

Streets Operations is responsible for maintaining the City's streets and drainage systems, providing snow removal, street sweeping services, and bulk item collection services. The goal of this division is to minimize road hazards and ensure safe public transit.

Traffic Engineering

Traffic Engineering designs, coordinates, improves, and maintains the traffic system in the City for safe and efficient travel throughout the City.

Utility Operations

The Utilities Operations Division is made up of three sections: Water Lines Maintenance, Wastewater Lines Maintenance and the Meter Shop.  Each of these sections provides customers with 24-hour, 7-days a week maintenance and repair service for the raw water delivery system, water distribution system, and the sanitary sewer collection system.   Water Limes Maintenance is responsible for the maintenance and repair of 410 miles of water mains of various sizes from 48-inch to 6-inch.  Included in the maintenance program are 3,550 fire hydrants and 10,600 water valves.  Wastewater Lines Maintenance is responsible for the maintenance and repair of 365 miles of sanitary sewer mains from 24-inch to 8-inch.  Included in the maintenance program are 9,900 manholes and 376 grease traps.  The Meter Shop is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and testing of 32,000 water meters from 6-inch to 5/8-inch in size.

Water Resources

The Water Resources division manages the City's water rights from which the City draws water for its potable water supply.  The Water Resources Division is responsible for the acquisition of raw water resources and coordinates associated adjudication efforts.  This Division also requires or develops raw water storage facilities, and manages properties associated with water supply projects.

Water Supply, Treatment and Quality

This Division is made up of three major sections Water Supply/Plant Maintenance, Water Treatment and Water Quality.  The Water Supply/Plant Maintenance Section is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the raw water supply system consisting of supply ditches and reservoirs, and the maintenance of water treatment plants, pump stations, potable water storage tanks, sewage lift stations and pressure reducing valves.  This includes raw water delivery to Thornton and Columbine water treatment plants, as well as raw water delivery to remaining shareholders for agricultural use.  The Water Treatment Section provides the resources necessary to treat potable drinking water for the citizens of Thornton.  The Water Treatment  Section manages the operation of the City's two water treatment plants to ensure treated drinking water that meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water regulations in sufficient quantity to meet all system demands.  The Water Quality Section provides resources to ensure that the City's drinking water quality meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water regulations at all times.  The Water Quality Section manages the operation of the City's water quality laboratory to provide sampling, monitoring and testing using established procedures and methods according to all regulatory requirements.

 

Key Numbers:

• Infrastructure Department (720) 977-6200
• Street Maintenance (720) 977-6200
• Environmental Services (Trash & Recycling) (720) 977-6200
• Traffic Engineering (720) 977-6500
• Engineering Services (720) 977-6200
• Water Quality (303) 255-7720
• Water Services (720) 977-6500
• Sewer Services (720) 977-6500