ALMA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alma, Colorado | Secondary Treatment

The ALMA wastewater treatment plant is located in Alma, a small town in Park County, Colorado, at an elevation in the Rocky Mountains. It serves a population of approximately 235 residents, reflecting the town's small size and rural character. The plant is situated in a mountainous region with cold winters and a short growing season, which influences treatment operations. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 113.56 cubic meters per day, matching the current discharge volume, indicating it operates at full capacity. As a small facility, it is likely subject to less stringent monitoring than larger plants but must still comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a small stream or creek that feeds into the South Platte River basin. The South Platte River flows northeast through Colorado and Nebraska, eventually joining the Platte River and draining into the Missouri River and ultimately the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of these downstream waters, which support aquatic life, irrigation, and recreational uses.

The ALMA plant discharges into a small tributary of the South Platte River, which flows through the Rocky Mountains and onto the Great Plains. The South Platte River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including trout fisheries and riparian habitats. Downstream, the river provides water for agriculture and municipalities. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens, though the small population served means its overall impact is limited.