Huachuca City WWTF - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Sierra Vista, Arizona

Huachuca City WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Sierra Vista, Arizona, serving a population of approximately 1,940 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 454.25 megaliters and treats an annual discharge volume of 567.81 megaliters. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The plant's treatment process meets secondary treatment requirements, which typically involve biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the San Pedro River basin, a vital riparian corridor in southeastern Arizona. The San Pedro River flows northward into the Gila River, eventually reaching the Colorado River and the Gulf of California. The region supports diverse wildlife and is an important migratory route for birds, making water quality protection critical.

The plant discharges into the San Pedro River watershed, a key tributary of the Gila River system. The San Pedro River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest, supporting a rich riparian ecosystem and serving as a critical migratory corridor for over 300 bird species. Downstream, the Gila River flows into the Colorado River, which ultimately reaches the Gulf of California. Protecting water quality in this arid region is essential for sustaining aquatic life and regional biodiversity.