Overview
Naco SD WWTF is a secondary treatment plant in Cochise County, Arizona, serving 904 people. It discharges 204.41 volume units and has a designed capacity of 302.83 volume units.
Naco SD WWTF (Sewage Disposal Wastewater Treatment Facility) is located in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. The plant serves a small population of 904 residents, providing secondary treatment for municipal wastewater in this rural border region near the Mexico-United States boundary. The facility operates with a designed capacity of 302.83 volume units and currently discharges 204.41 volume units, indicating it is not at full capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to protect water quality. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent from Naco SD WWTF is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the San Pedro River, a major tributary of the Gila River and part of the Colorado River Basin. The San Pedro River is an ecologically significant riparian corridor in the arid Southwest, supporting diverse wildlife and migratory birds. The plant's operations help protect this sensitive desert ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the San Pedro River watershed, which flows through southeastern Arizona and into the Gila River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The San Pedro River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Southwest, supporting a rich riparian habitat and serving as a critical migratory corridor for birds. The arid climate and low flows make the river particularly sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution, underscoring the importance of effective wastewater treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Naco SD WWTF is located in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, near the border with Mexico.
The plant serves a population of 904 people.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the San Pedro River, a tributary of the Gila River and part of the Colorado River Basin.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, which requires removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids to protect receiving waters.
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