Central Clear Creek SD Wastewater Treatment Plant, Dumont, Colorado

Central Clear Creek SD is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Dumont, Colorado, within Clear Creek County. The plant serves a small population of around 1,289 residents, reflecting its role in a rural mountain community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. For small communities like Dumont, secondary treatment is the standard baseline, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 378.54 megaliters per year and currently discharges 151.42 megaliters annually, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the Clear Creek watershed, which flows into the South Platte River and ultimately the Mississippi River system. This water body supports aquatic life and recreational activities, making effective treatment essential for protecting downstream ecosystems and public health.

Central Clear Creek SD discharges into the Clear Creek watershed, a tributary of the South Platte River. The South Platte flows through the Denver metropolitan area before joining the Platte River, which drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The Clear Creek watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including trout species, and is used for recreation. Effective secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive mountain ecosystem.