ELDORADO STP - Eldorado, Texas Wastewater Treatment Plant

ELDORADO STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Eldorado, Texas, serving a population of approximately 1,940 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to protect water quality. As a small-scale facility, it plays a vital role in managing local wastewater in this rural community. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 1,476.31 units, with an average daily discharge of 446.68 units, indicating operational headroom. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, enforced by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Colorado River basin, which flows southeast through Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. This discharge supports downstream aquatic ecosystems and agricultural water supplies, making proper treatment essential for regional water quality and ecological health.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Colorado River, which flows through central Texas to Matagorda Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Colorado River supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as largemouth bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Downstream ecosystems rely on consistent water quality, making the plant's secondary treatment important for maintaining ecological balance in the watershed.