Boulder WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Boulder, Montana

Boulder WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Boulder, Jefferson County, Montana, United States. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,183 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment operation within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a design capacity of 601.88 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 522.39 thousand cubic meters per year, the plant operates below its designed capacity, indicating adequate treatment capacity for the current service population. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Missouri River basin. The plant's operations are subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with water quality standards to protect downstream aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Jefferson River, which flows into the Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life, including native fish species such as trout, and are part of a larger watershed that provides habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecological balance.