Bluewater Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cibola County, New Mexico

Bluewater Lagoon is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States. It serves a small population of 500 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or unincorporated area of the county. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 113.56 megaliters per year, the facility operates at full capacity based on reported discharge volumes. As a small-scale facility, it is subject to state-level NPDES permitting through the New Mexico Environment Department. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Rio Grande basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect groundwater and surface water quality in the arid New Mexico landscape, supporting local ecosystems and downstream water users.

The plant discharges into the Rio Grande basin, which flows south through New Mexico and Texas before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. This arid region relies on careful water management to sustain aquatic habitats and agricultural needs. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping maintain water quality in a watershed that supports diverse wildlife and migratory birds.