Overview
Melrose Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant in Quay County, New Mexico, serving 693 people. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the region's water management.
Melrose Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Quay County, New Mexico, serving a population of approximately 693 residents. The plant operates as a lagoon system, providing secondary treatment for municipal wastewater in this rural area of the High Plains. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 volume units and a discharge volume of 227.13, indicating full utilization. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements under the US Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal plants to protect water quality. The plant is likely permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) administered by the New Mexico Environment Department. The treated effluent is discharged into local receiving waters, which ultimately drain into the Canadian River basin and then the Arkansas River system. This contributes to the water resources of the region, supporting agricultural and ecological needs in the semi-arid environment of eastern New Mexico.
Environmental context
Melrose Lagoon discharges into local waterways that are part of the Canadian River watershed, which flows through the High Plains of New Mexico and Texas before joining the Arkansas River. The receiving waters support a mix of agricultural irrigation and natural habitats, including riparian zones that provide critical habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollutants, protecting downstream water quality in this water-scarce region.
Frequently asked questions
Melrose Lagoon is located on Quay Road 30 in Quay County, New Mexico, in the eastern part of the state near the town of Melrose.
Melrose Lagoon serves a population of 693 residents in the rural community of Melrose and surrounding areas in Quay County.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that drain into the Canadian River basin, ultimately reaching the Arkansas River system.
Melrose Lagoon provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater plants to protect water quality.
As a US plant, Melrose Lagoon operates under the Clean Water Act and is permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the New Mexico Environment Department.
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