BRECKENRIDGE — Expansion of the wastewater-treatment plant at Farmer’s Korner — for $34 million — is on track for groundbreaking this summer, so long as the state doesn’t require an $8 million-to-$15 million nitrification system.

“From our analysis, we wouldn’t need it,” said Breckenridge Sanitation District manager Andy Carlberg. “It would be a totally separate process we would have to add to planned expansion, if required.”

The district hired an outside consultant and used the Colorado Department of Health and Environment’s methods to analyze the necessity of such a system, Carlberg said, but results of a separate analysis by the state is expected today.

The district’s Iowa Hill Water Reclamation facility uses nitrification to further break down ammonia, which is known to affect the hatching and growth rates of fish.

Carlberg said the system was required at Iowa Hill because it discharges into the Blue River. The Farmer’s Korner plant discharges into Dillon Reservoir and therefore hasn’t required nitrification.

But as the district grows, the need for nitrification increases.

The expansion will allow for the system to eventually be added, for “one day it more than likely will be required,” he said.

Carlberg said he expects it to be needed in 10 to 15 years.

Presently, the district doesn’t have a plan for financing a nitrification process along with the expansion, he said.

The expansion project’s public-comment period ended last week. Carlberg said the district received no feedback on the project, which will increase plant capacity by 2 million to 4.99 million gallons per day.

District board member Robin Theobald said he wasn’t surprised by the lack of public comment.

“We are a utility, and the public expects that wastewater is going to be treated,” he said. “And if we need to expand, we need to do that.”

Theobald also said the board studied about six expansion plans and selected the least expensive option. The board also considered tackling the project in phases, but found that would not have made sense economically.

The two new structures are to total about 43,000 square feet, built north of the present structure near the intersection of Colorado 9 and Swan Mountain Road.

Carlberg said the project’s next steps include approval from Summit County regarding environmental analysis.

In other news, the district’s monthly rates are to increase by $1 to $23 per single-family equivalent starting in January. Carlberg said this is the normal annual increase.

He also said tap fee increases are under consideration.

Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.