Larkspur Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Larkspur, Colorado

Larkspur Lagoon is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Larkspur, Colorado, within Douglas County. The plant serves a small population of 250 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, ensuring a high level of pollutant removal before discharge. With a designed capacity of 113.56 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 75.71 cubic meters per day, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The advanced treatment level aligns with expectations for protecting sensitive receiving waters, even for small communities. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the South Platte River, which flows into the Platte River and eventually the Missouri River and Mississippi River system. This drainage network supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses downstream. The plant's advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this important regional watershed.

The plant discharges into a local water body that drains into the South Platte River basin, part of the larger Platte River system. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway. Downstream, the Platte River flows into the Missouri River, which ultimately reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The advanced treatment at Larkspur Lagoon helps protect these downstream ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.