Colorado lags far behind neighboring states when it comes to keeping special permits critical to stopping pollutants from entering streams current, a new report says. Colorado’s backlog has, at times, surged to 70%, while six other states surveyed have fairly few lapsed wastewater treatment permits, according to the report, with Arizona and Oregon, for instance, showing permit backlogs of just 10%. The analysis was commissioned last year to help the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and state lawmakers understand why the situation has deteriorated and how it can be fixed. … Colorado lawmakers approved $6 million in new funding in 2023 to help the CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Division hire more people to help process permits more quickly and efficiently, but the backlog remains and affects major treatment facilities.