MANILA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Manila, Utah | Secondary Treatment Facility

The MANILA wastewater treatment plant is located in Manila, a small town in Daggett County, Utah, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 310 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the US, which involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The facility has a designed capacity of 492.10 megaliters and currently discharges 151.42 megaliters annually, indicating it operates well below its capacity. This suggests the plant is adequately sized for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Green River system, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Colorado River Basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical water source for the arid southwestern US. The plant's operations are important for protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into the Green River watershed, which flows into the Colorado River and eventually reaches the Gulf of California. The Colorado River Basin is a vital water source for agriculture, municipalities, and ecosystems across multiple states. The region supports species such as the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, which are sensitive to water quality changes. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to algal blooms and habitat degradation in downstream reservoirs and river reaches.