Bristol WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Prowers County, Colorado

Bristol WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on County Road KK in Prowers County, Colorado, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 200 residents, reflecting its role in a rural agricultural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as the minimum standard for municipal wastewater plants. The plant has a designed capacity of 151.42 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 113.56 cubic meters per day, indicating it is operating below capacity. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's permit is managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Arkansas River basin, which flows through southeastern Colorado and ultimately into the Mississippi River system. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this semi-arid region, where water resources are critical for agriculture and ecosystem health.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Arkansas River watershed. The Arkansas River flows through the Great Plains and supports irrigated agriculture, wildlife habitat, and recreational uses. Downstream, the river joins the Mississippi River, contributing to the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management essential for maintaining aquatic life and agricultural productivity.