FRASER WWTP - Tabernash, Colorado Wastewater Treatment Plant

FRASER WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Tabernash, Grand County, Colorado. Serving a population of about 4,005, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater in a mountainous, rural setting. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal to protect sensitive mountain watersheds. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Fraser River watershed, which flows into the Colorado River system. This river network is critical for downstream water supply, agriculture, and recreation in the arid Western US. The plant's performance directly affects the ecological health of the Fraser River and the broader Colorado River Basin.

The plant discharges into the Fraser River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Colorado River Basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people across multiple states. The Fraser River is a cold-water fishery, home to trout species, and its water quality is vital for downstream ecosystems, including the Colorado River's sensitive riparian habitats.