Overview
Aztec City of wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 6,800 residents in Aztec, New Mexico. The facility is part of the municipal infrastructure managed by San Juan County.
The Aztec City of wastewater treatment plant is located in Aztec, New Mexico, within San Juan County. It serves a population of around 6,800 people, making it a small to medium-sized municipal facility in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. As a U.S. wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. For plants serving populations of this scale, secondary treatment is typically mandated, with possible additional nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the San Juan River, a tributary of the Colorado River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal use downstream, including in the Colorado River Basin.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the San Juan River watershed, which flows into the Colorado River and eventually reaches the Gulf of California. The San Juan River supports a variety of fish species and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The region's arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecosystem health and downstream water uses.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Aztec, San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, near the San Juan River.
The plant serves approximately 6,800 residents in the Aztec area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which drains into the San Juan River, a tributary of the Colorado River.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, typically administered by the New Mexico Environment Department.
For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, with possible additional nutrient removal if the receiving water body is sensitive to eutrophication.
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