January 27, 2026 | Paige Wharton

A Small District with a Big Vision 

Just seven miles outside of Durango, Colorado, Edgemont Ranch Metro District quietly delivers essential services to a population of roughly 1,800 to 2,500 residents. Established as a Colorado Special District in 1983, the district provides water and wastewater services, maintains roads, and manages snow removal across a landscape that includes ranch land, waterways, and mountain terrain. With a total staff of just eight—six operations staff and two office employees—Edgemont Ranch operates with one of the lowest mill levies in the county while maintaining high expectations for service, transparency, and environmental stewardship. 

That combination of scale, ambition, and values recently earned Edgemont Ranch recognition through the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s Green Business Program—an award that reflects years of forward-thinking decisions. The small water district completed construction of the first Austrian-style wastewater treatment plant in the United States and installed solar technology for their two plants—one of which provides quality drinking water to residents while the other sends healthy water back into the river. The crowning touch? Both treatment plants fully offset energy demand, allowing Edgemont Ranch to keep costs equitable for its members and community. 

Paving the Way: Bringing Austrian Water Technology to the U.S.  

Perhaps the most groundbreaking achievement behind the Colorado Green Business Award is Edgemont Ranch’s new wastewater treatment plant which is modeled after systems commonly used in the mountains of Austria and Germany. In search of the most efficient and environmentally sound solution, Robert Ludwig, Utilities Manager at Edgemont Ranch, ventured to Europe in search of best-in-class wastewater technology.  

Accompanying him were his Assistant Manager and Wastewater Superintendent Kurtis Martinez—who Ludwig credits for ensuring the district’s technology functions properly—and World Water Works, the company that holds the U.S. patent for this technology. Together, the group toured seven wastewater facilities, studying world class technology designed specifically for the mountains.  

The journey resulted in a new, $8.5 million wastewater facility using advanced technology developed at Innsbruck College, selected from an identical plant toured in Soyen, Germany—Edgemont Ranch’s sister city.  

The new facility, completed in 2022, uses a robust biological treatment process that relies on microorganisms—often referred to as “bugs”—to do the work. These systems treat wastewater at roughly half the electrical cost of traditional lagoon-based systems while producing cleaner effluent that better protects river health. The process is so effective that the plant doesn’t emit the odors typically associated with wastewater treatment; instead, it smells faintly like detergent, a sign that the biology is doing its job.  

Edgemont Ranch’s plant became the first Austrian-style treatment facility built in the United States. Since then, utilities from U.S. cities as far away as Chicago and Seattle have toured the site looking to replicate its success. Edgemont Ranch continues to maintain strong relationships with European engineers—so strong, in fact, that replacement parts can arrive from Germany in as little as three days.  

Safety, Risk, and Responsible Operations 

Providing water and sanitation services carries inherent risk, and Edgemont Ranch approaches that responsibility with a clear priority: maintaining public trust. Transparency, rigorous training, and a culture of safety guide their daily operations.  

“The number one thing with water and sanitation is maintaining public trust. We want to exceed expectations rather than just meet them,” shares Ludwig.  

Staff are trained extensively in confined space entry and rescue, often serving as their own first responders due to the district’s size and remote location. Equipment is carefully maintained, harnesses are properly fitted, and procedures are followed “by the book” even when it may require more time and effort. While training can be challenging for a small team, the district makes an effort to keep it engaging and collaborative, sometimes partnering with neighboring agencies.  

Risk management also extends to residents. A new metering pilot program will allow customers to track water use in near real time through individual web portals, offering insights as granular as how often a toilet is flushed or what time a dishwasher last cycled. Combined with conservation-based rate structures and community workshops, the district empowers residents to be active participants in water stewardship.  

Infrastructure, Environment, and Community Impact  

Every aspect of Edgemont Ranch’s infrastructure is designed with environmental protection in mind.  While the district operates on senior water rights, they choose to leave junior water rights in the Florida River’s riparian zone as a way to protect the delicate ecosystem that so many rely on for clean water. Part of their success is through their partnership with Trout Unlimited, where the district takes steps to mitigate overfishing and protect the river’s inhabitants from increasingly common higher temperatures. Road maintenance and snow removal follow Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) specifications to prevent over application of magnesium chloride, while drainage systems direct runoff through oil-water separators and detention ponds to keep pollutants out of waterways.  

Partnerships play a critical role in these areas. In addition to the above-mentioned partnerships, the district works with Animas Water Partnership to help secure federal funding to the basin, which results in funding for construction-based river restoration projects such as restoring a farmer’s hedge gate. Following events such as the Gold King Mine spill and multiple wildfire seasons, the district has worked with organizations such as the Mountain Studies Institute to monitor water quality and respond to environmental threats.  

Community engagement is equally important. From ice cream socials to hands-on demonstrations with sewer cameras, Edgemont Ranch finds creative ways to connect residents of all ages to the infrastructure that supports their daily lives. These efforts reinforce a shared understanding: strong infrastructure protects property values, supports economic resilience, and helps ensure the community remains a desirable place to call home.  

“By keeping the expectation of service high, we’re able to make a nice place to live,” says Ludwig. “We’re building a sustainable, attractive future, and the infrastructure supports that.” 

Looking Ahead: Preparing for an Uncertain Future 

Like many districts, Edgemont Ranch faces challenges—from labor shortages and supply chain disruptions to the realities of operating on Colorado’s West Slope. Doing more with less is a constant theme. Yet the district continues to look forward, exploring electric meter-reading vehicles, electric service trucks, and emerging battery technologies through partnerships with a local school. They also want to explore reintroduction of household hazardous waste cleanup events, a nod to the district's commitment to community safety.  

With an annual operating budget of approximately $1.5 million and responsibility for maintaining $56 million in assets, the district remains focused on delivering exceptional value. Its mission is straightforward but ambitious: provide the best possible drinking water, return the cleanest possible water to the environment, and do it all at the lowest feasible cost.  

As environmental conditions continue to change, Edgemont Ranch acknowledges there in uncertainty ahead. Ludwig shares, “We’re doing everything we can to meet the changes of tomorrow.” Through innovation, collaboration, and a willingness to go the extra mile, this small district has shown that leadership in sustainability doesn’t require size—just commitment, curiosity, and the courage to try something new.