BAILEY WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Bailey, Colorado

BAILEY WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bailey, Park County, Colorado. It serves a small population of approximately 300 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The plant is situated in a mountainous region of the Rocky Mountains, where cold temperatures and seasonal flow variations influence treatment operations. As a secondary treatment plant, BAILEY WWTP utilizes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 283.91 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge of 87.06 cubic meters, indicating ample capacity for current loads. Under the US Clean Water Act, the facility operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which sets effluent limits to protect receiving water quality. The treated effluent from BAILEY WWTP is discharged to a nearby stream that flows into the North Fork of the South Platte River, part of the larger South Platte River basin. This river system ultimately drains to the Platte River, Missouri River, and Mississippi River, reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting local aquatic life and downstream water users in this ecologically sensitive mountain watershed.

BAILEY WWTP discharges into a tributary of the North Fork of the South Platte River, which flows through the Rocky Mountain foothills. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species including trout and other cold-water fish. The treated effluent contributes to base flow in the river, especially during dry periods, and must meet stringent nutrient and temperature limits to protect downstream ecosystems. The South Platte River is a vital water source for agriculture and municipalities in Colorado and downstream states.