Colorado River Joint Venture Wastewater Treatment Plant, La Paz County, Arizona

Colorado River Joint Venture is a wastewater treatment facility located in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. Its location in the arid southwestern US presents unique operational challenges related to water conservation and reuse. As a US-based facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality or the US EPA. The plant's discharge likely enters the Colorado River basin, a critical water resource for the southwestern United States. The Colorado River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, irrigates vast agricultural areas, and provides drinking water for millions. Downstream, the river flows to the Gulf of California, though in recent decades its flow rarely reaches the sea due to extensive water withdrawals.

The plant is located in the Colorado River basin, which drains into the Gulf of California. The Colorado River is a vital water source for the arid Southwest, supporting endangered fish species such as the humpback chub and razorback sucker. Water quality management in this basin is critical due to high evaporation rates, agricultural runoff, and the river's role in supplying water to major cities and irrigation districts.