ORGAN LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Organ, New Mexico

ORGAN LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Organ, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,500 residents and operates with a designed capacity of 121.13 volume units. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. For small communities like Organ, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The facility's discharge volume of 121.13 volume units reflects its scale and operational capacity. The treated effluent from ORGAN LAGOON is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rio Grande basin. The Rio Grande is a critical water source for the region, supporting agriculture, wildlife, and communities in New Mexico and Texas. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this arid region, where water resources are particularly sensitive to pollution.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds into the Rio Grande, a major river system in the southwestern United States. The Rio Grande flows through New Mexico and Texas before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This arid region relies heavily on the river for irrigation and municipal water supply, making the protection of water quality essential. The surrounding ecosystem supports diverse aquatic life and migratory birds, and the plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen impacts.