Big Piney Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant | Big Piney, Wyoming

Big Piney Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Beach Avenue in Big Piney, Sublette County, Wyoming. The plant serves a population of 552 and is classified as a small-scale treatment system typical of rural communities in the Rocky Mountain region. As a secondary treatment plant, Big Piney Lagoon provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The facility has a designed capacity of 1056.13 million gallons and discharges approximately 75.71 million gallons of treated wastewater annually. Under the US Clean Water Act, such plants must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River. The Colorado River system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities across the southwestern United States. The plant's inland location and small population served reduce its environmental footprint.

Big Piney Lagoon discharges into the Green River watershed, which flows into the Colorado River and ultimately reaches the Gulf of California. The Green River supports a variety of fish species, including trout, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this arid region where water resources are highly valued.