Overview
Benson WWTF serves approximately 3,722 residents in Benson, Arizona. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with state-level NPDES permitting through the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Benson WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Benson, Cochise County, Arizona, serving a population of about 3,722. The plant is situated in the San Pedro River Valley, an arid region with significant ecological importance. As a U.S. facility serving fewer than 10,000 people, Benson WWTF is classified as a small publicly owned treatment works (POTW) under the Clean Water Act. Such plants typically employ secondary treatment or equivalent technologies to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality administers the NPDES program in the state, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to the San Pedro River or its tributaries, which flow south into Mexico and eventually to the Gulf of California. The San Pedro River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest, supporting diverse riparian habitat and migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for downstream ecosystems and regional water resources.
Environmental context
Benson WWTF discharges into the San Pedro River watershed, a vital riparian corridor in the arid Southwest. The San Pedro River flows south through Arizona into Sonora, Mexico, where it joins the Gila River and eventually reaches the Gulf of California. This basin supports a rich diversity of bird species and is a critical migratory route. Maintaining low nutrient and pollutant loads is essential to protect the river's ecological health and downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Benson WWTF is located on East Pearl Street in Benson, Cochise County, Arizona, United States.
Benson WWTF serves approximately 3,722 residents in the city of Benson and surrounding areas.
The plant likely discharges treated effluent to the San Pedro River or its tributaries, which flow south into Mexico and eventually to the Gulf of California.
As a small publicly owned treatment works (POTW), Benson WWTF must comply with the Clean Water Act's secondary treatment standards and obtain an NPDES permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
For small POTWs serving fewer than 10,000 people, typical treatment includes secondary treatment (e.g., activated sludge or lagoon systems) to meet BOD and TSS limits, with possible disinfection.
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