LYONS WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lyons, Colorado

LYONS WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lyons, Colorado, a small town in Boulder County. Serving a population of around 2,310, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for discharges into surface waters. For small communities like Lyons, secondary treatment is typically mandated to protect water quality. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are managed to meet state and federal standards, ensuring that effluent meets permit limits before discharge. Plants of this scale in Colorado commonly employ biological treatment followed by disinfection. The facility's design and operation are overseen by local authorities to comply with environmental regulations. The treated effluent from LYONS WWTP is discharged into a receiving water body that flows into the St. Vrain Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River. The South Platte River eventually drains into the Platte River and then the Missouri River, which is part of the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply and recreation. The plant's discharge is regulated to minimize impacts on downstream ecosystems.

LYONS WWTP discharges into a tributary of St. Vrain Creek, which flows into the South Platte River, a major waterway in Colorado. The South Platte River ultimately joins the Platte River in Nebraska and then the Missouri River, contributing to the Mississippi River basin. The local watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's operations are designed to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.