Overview
Montezuma Creek wastewater treatment plant serves 335 people in Montezuma Creek, Utah, with secondary treatment and a designed capacity of 264.98 m³/day.
The Montezuma Creek wastewater treatment plant is located in Montezuma Creek (Díwózhii Bikooh), within the Shiprock Agency of San Juan County, Utah. It serves a small population of 335 residents in this rural community near the Colorado border. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 264.98 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 189.27 m³/day, the facility operates below its capacity. As a U.S. plant, it falls under the Clean Water Act and is likely permitted through the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's NPDES program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that drains into the San Juan River, a major tributary of the Colorado River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Colorado River Basin, which provides water for millions across the southwestern United States. The plant's operations help protect downstream ecosystems and water resources in this arid region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the San Juan River, which then joins the Colorado River. The Colorado River Basin is a critical water source for the southwestern U.S. and supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several endemic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive desert watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on SR 162 in Montezuma Creek (Díwózhii Bikooh), within the Shiprock Agency of San Juan County, Utah, near the Colorado border.
The plant serves a small community of 335 residents in Montezuma Creek and surrounding areas.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into a local stream that flows into the San Juan River, a tributary of the Colorado River.
As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
Small U.S. plants serving fewer than 10,000 people often use secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids.
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