Lake City Area STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Lake City, Colorado

Lake City Area STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) serves the community of Lake City, located in Hinsdale County, Colorado. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 2,004 residents, reflecting the scale of a small mountain community. As a municipal facility, it manages wastewater from residential and commercial sources within the town. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this size must meet effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The designed capacity of 757.08 million gallons per year indicates the plant's ability to handle peak flows, while the actual discharge volume of 340.69 million gallons per year suggests current usage is below capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body within the Upper Colorado River Basin. The plant's location in the Rocky Mountains means the downstream environment includes high-altitude streams that feed into the Colorado River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. Protecting water quality in this headwater region is critical for the broader Colorado River Basin.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Upper Colorado River Basin, which ultimately flows into the Colorado River and then to the Gulf of California. The surrounding watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting native trout species and riparian habitats. As a headwater facility, the plant's effluent quality directly affects downstream water resources used for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation.