Overview
CITY OF MORIARTY wastewater treatment plant serves Moriarty, New Mexico, USA. The facility manages municipal wastewater for a population of 1,910.
The CITY OF MORIARTY wastewater treatment plant is located in Moriarty, Torrance County, New Mexico, United States. It serves a population of 1,910 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility in the arid Southwestern region. As a US-based plant of this size, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the New Mexico Environment Department. Small communities often utilize lagoon systems or extended aeration processes to meet secondary treatment standards. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to a local arroyo or dry wash, eventually contributing to the Estancia Valley basin, a closed basin with no outlet to the ocean. Protecting groundwater quality is critical in this semi-arid environment where water resources are limited.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Estancia Valley, a closed basin in central New Mexico. Treated wastewater likely percolates into local groundwater or evaporates from surface impoundments, as there are no perennial rivers in the area. The region supports fragile desert ecosystems and playa lakes that provide habitat for migratory birds and endemic species. Groundwater recharge is vital for sustaining local agriculture and domestic water supplies.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 455 Center Avenue in Moriarty, Torrance County, New Mexico, United States.
The plant serves a population of 1,910 residents in the city of Moriarty and surrounding areas.
The plant likely discharges to an evaporation pond or percolation basin, common for small inland facilities in arid regions, with no direct surface water discharge.
As a US municipal plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the New Mexico Environment Department, ensuring effluent meets secondary treatment standards.
Small plants in New Mexico often use aerated lagoons or sequencing batch reactors to achieve secondary treatment, with disinfection before discharge or reuse.
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