Overview
Buckeye Tartesso East WRF is a projected wastewater treatment plant in Buckeye, Arizona, serving approximately 20,000 people. It will operate under US EPA and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
Buckeye Tartesso East WRF is a planned wastewater treatment facility located in Buckeye, Arizona, within Maricopa County. The plant is designed to serve a population of around 20,005 residents, addressing the growing wastewater needs of this expanding community in the Phoenix metropolitan area. As a projected facility, the specific treatment process and capacity details are not yet finalized. However, the plant will be subject to the US Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, administered by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with potential for additional nutrient removal to protect downstream water quality. The plant's treated effluent will likely discharge to the Gila River watershed, which flows into the Colorado River and ultimately to the Gulf of California. This arid region faces water scarcity challenges, making wastewater reuse and groundwater recharge important considerations for the facility's design and operation.
Environmental context
The plant is located in the Lower Colorado River Basin, within the Gila River watershed. Treated effluent may eventually reach the Colorado River, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people. The arid climate and water scarcity in Arizona make wastewater management critical for maintaining local water resources and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Buckeye Tartesso East WRF is located on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway in Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States.
The plant is designed to serve approximately 20,005 residents in the Buckeye area.
As a projected facility, the discharge method is not yet specified. However, typical plants in this region discharge to the Gila River watershed or reuse effluent for irrigation and groundwater recharge.
The plant will operate under the US Clean Water Act and NPDES permit program, enforced by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. For a population of 20,000, secondary treatment is typically required.
Plants serving around 20,000 people in the US usually employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, often with disinfection. Nutrient removal may be required in sensitive watersheds.
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