Overview
LEADVILLE WWTP serves approximately 4,575 residents in Stringtown, Colorado. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permitting through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
LEADVILLE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Stringtown, Lake County, Colorado, serving a population of about 4,575. The plant is situated in the Rocky Mountain region at an elevation over 10,000 feet, treating wastewater from the Leadville area. 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 high-altitude watersheds. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into the Arkansas River headwaters, as the area drains into the Arkansas River basin. This river flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas before reaching the Mississippi River. The upper Arkansas River supports cold-water fisheries including native cutthroat trout and is a popular recreation corridor.
Environmental context
The plant is located in the headwaters of the Arkansas River, which originates in the Rocky Mountains near Leadville. This high-altitude watershed feeds into the Arkansas River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The area is ecologically sensitive due to its alpine environment, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical water source for downstream communities and agriculture.
Frequently asked questions
LEADVILLE WWTP is located in Stringtown, Lake County, Colorado, near the town of Leadville in the Rocky Mountains.
The plant serves approximately 4,575 residents in the Stringtown and Leadville area.
The plant likely discharges into the Arkansas River headwaters, which flow into the Arkansas River basin and eventually the Mississippi River.
As a US facility, LEADVILLE WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
For a community of this size, secondary treatment is standard, often with additional nutrient removal to protect sensitive high-altitude streams and comply with Colorado's water quality standards.
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