CUBA LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lagunitas, New Mexico

CUBA LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Lagunitas, Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States. The plant serves a small population of 710 residents, providing secondary treatment to municipal wastewater. As a small-scale facility in a rural setting, it plays a key role in managing local sanitation needs. The plant employs secondary treatment processes, which involve biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 529.96 units and a current discharge volume of 113.56 units, the facility operates well below its capacity. Under the US Clean Water Act, such plants are typically regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New Mexico Environment Department, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Rio Grande basin, which flows south through New Mexico and Texas before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, CUBA LAGOON helps protect downstream water quality and ecosystem health.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Rio Grande basin, which flows through arid landscapes of New Mexico and Texas. The Rio Grande is a critical water source for irrigation, municipal supply, and habitat for species such as the Rio Grande silvery minnow. Downstream, the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to estuarine ecosystems. The secondary treatment level reduces organic pollutants, supporting the river's ecological balance in a water-scarce region.