EMERY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Emery, Utah

EMERY is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Emery, Utah, a small community in Emery County. The facility serves a population of 288, classifying it as a small-scale treatment operation in the rural western United States. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 492.10 volume units and a current discharge volume of 204.41, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Colorado River Basin. This basin is a critical water resource for the arid Southwest, supporting agriculture, ecosystems, and downstream communities. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce pollutants before discharge, contributing to the protection of regional water quality.

The plant discharges into the Colorado River Basin, a major watershed that flows through Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California before reaching the Gulf of California. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people. The arid climate of the region makes water quality management particularly important for maintaining ecosystem health and meeting downstream water needs.