Fort Hancock WWTP - Secondary Treatment Facility in Fort Hancock, Texas

Fort Hancock WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Fort Hancock, Texas, along State Highway 20 in Hudspeth County. The facility serves a small population of 536 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for smaller communities in the United States. The plant has a designed capacity of 378.54 megaliters and currently discharges 189.27 megaliters of treated wastewater annually, indicating it operates below its full capacity. As a US facility, it falls under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which regulate effluent quality and discharge limits. The treated effluent from Fort Hancock WWTP is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rio Grande River. The Rio Grande flows through the arid landscapes of Texas and northern Mexico before reaching the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and communities along its course.

The plant discharges into the Rio Grande River basin, a critical water source in the Chihuahuan Desert. The Rio Grande flows southeast through Texas and into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting riparian habitats and migratory bird corridors. Downstream ecosystems rely on consistent water quality, making secondary treatment essential for protecting aquatic life and human uses.