Overview
Douglas WWTF serves Cochise County, Arizona, treating wastewater for approximately 21,194 people. The plant operates under U.S. EPA and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
Douglas WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cochise County, Arizona, serving a population of about 21,194. The plant is situated in the arid southwestern United States, near the border with Mexico, and plays a key role in managing local wastewater. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the U.S. Clean Water Act, enforced through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged to local waterways that drain into the San Pedro River, a vital riparian corridor in the Sonoran Desert. The San Pedro River supports diverse wildlife and is an important migratory bird route, making the plant's discharge quality critical for downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge likely enters the San Pedro River basin, which flows northward through southeastern Arizona before joining the Gila River and eventually the Colorado River. The San Pedro River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest, supporting cottonwood-willow riparian forests and species such as the southwestern willow flycatcher. Protecting water quality in this arid region is essential for maintaining aquatic habitats and groundwater recharge.
Frequently asked questions
Douglas WWTF is located at 3708 Leslie Canyon Road, Cochise County, Arizona, United States.
The plant serves approximately 21,194 people in the Douglas area and surrounding Cochise County.
Treated effluent is discharged to local waterways that flow into the San Pedro River, a tributary of the Gila River and Colorado River system.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, requiring secondary treatment and effluent limits.
Plants of this size typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection, to meet EPA standards.
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