MOFFAT LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saguache County, Colorado

MOFFAT LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Saguache County, Colorado, United States. The plant serves a small population of 230 residents, reflecting its role in a rural, inland community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 113.56 megaliters and treats an annual discharge volume of 75.71 megaliters. Under the US Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Secondary treatment is the standard requirement for municipal wastewater plants in the US, ensuring compliance with federal effluent guidelines. The treated effluent from MOFFAT LAGOON is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Rio Grande basin. The plant's location in the San Luis Valley, a high-altitude desert region, means that water resources are particularly sensitive. The receiving waters support agricultural irrigation and provide habitat for native fish and migratory birds, making effective treatment essential for maintaining water quality in this arid ecosystem.

MOFFAT LAGOON discharges into the Rio Grande basin, which flows through Colorado and New Mexico before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The San Luis Valley is an ecologically sensitive area with limited water resources, supporting agriculture and wildlife such as the Southwestern willow flycatcher. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this arid region.