Overview
BLACK HAWK _ CENTRAL CITY WWT serves Cottonwood, Colorado, treating wastewater for approximately 1,857 residents under U.S. EPA NPDES regulations.
BLACK HAWK _ CENTRAL CITY WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cottonwood, Gilpin County, Colorado, United States. The plant serves a population of about 1,857 people, typical of a small mountain community in the Rocky Mountain region. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a local stream or creek within the South Platte River basin, which ultimately flows into the Platte River and then the Missouri River system. The surrounding area features mountainous terrain and sensitive headwater ecosystems that support trout and other cold-water species.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Rocky Mountain foothills, within the South Platte River watershed. Treated wastewater likely enters a small tributary of Clear Creek or similar waterway, which flows into the South Platte River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life, including native cutthroat trout, and provides water for downstream communities and agriculture. The mountainous terrain and seasonal snowmelt influence stream flows and water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on CO 119 in Cottonwood, Gilpin County, Colorado, United States, in the Rocky Mountain region.
The plant serves approximately 1,857 residents, typical of a small mountain community in Colorado.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway within the South Platte River basin, likely a tributary of Clear Creek or similar stream.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Small Colorado plants typically use secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or lagoon systems, to meet state and federal water quality standards for mountain streams.
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