Calipatria WWTF - Imperial County, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

Calipatria WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the community of Calipatria in Imperial County, California. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,980 residents and is situated in the arid southeastern region of the state near the Salton Sea. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to the Alamo River or New River, which flow into the Salton Sea, a critical inland water body for migratory birds and regional ecology. The Salton Sea ecosystem faces challenges from agricultural runoff and salinity, making wastewater treatment quality important for local water quality management.

The plant's discharge likely enters the Alamo River or New River, both of which drain into the Salton Sea, a large saline lake in the Colorado Desert. The Salton Sea is an important stopover for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway and supports diverse aquatic life, though it faces ecological stress from high salinity and nutrient loads. The watershed is part of the Colorado River basin, ultimately draining to the Gulf of California.