Green River Wastewater Treatment Plant, Green River, Utah

The Green River wastewater treatment plant is located in Green River, Utah, a small community in Emery County. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,352 residents, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal facility in the arid western United States. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 946.35 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 567.81 megaliters, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The 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 southwestern United States, supporting agriculture, ecosystems, and urban centers. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive arid region.

The plant discharges into the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River. The Colorado River Basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people across multiple states. The arid climate and high evaporation rates make water quality management particularly important in this region. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream ecosystems and water users.