Aguilar Town of Wastewater Treatment Plant, Las Animas County, Colorado

The Aguilar Town of wastewater treatment plant is located in Las Animas County, Colorado, serving the small community of Aguilar. The facility provides advanced treatment for a population of about 600, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. As a small-scale municipal plant, it plays a key role in protecting public health and the environment in this rural area. The plant operates with advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 189.27 cubic meters per day, it currently operates at full capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set strict effluent limits to safeguard water quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Arkansas River basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for agriculture and recreation downstream. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Arkansas River, which flows through southeastern Colorado into Kansas and eventually to the Mississippi River. The Arkansas River basin supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient pollution, helping to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in this semi-arid region.