Overview
PCRWRD Green Valley WRF is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Sahuarita, Arizona, USA. It treats wastewater for approximately 21,391 residents in Pima County.
PCRWRD Green Valley WRF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Sahuarita, Arizona, within Pima County. The plant serves a population of approximately 21,391 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under US regulatory standards. It operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges into surface waters. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, it is subject to secondary treatment standards under the Clean Water Act, unless a higher level is required by the receiving water body. The facility is part of the broader wastewater infrastructure managed by Pima County, which includes several plants in the region. Typical plants of this scale employ activated sludge or similar biological processes. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Santa Cruz River and then into the Gila River system. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for the arid Southwest. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and maintain ecological balance in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Santa Cruz River watershed, which flows northward through Arizona and eventually joins the Gila River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Colorado River system is a critical water source for the southwestern United States and supports a variety of aquatic species, including several native fish. The arid climate of the region makes water quality management particularly important for maintaining ecosystem health and supporting agricultural and municipal uses downstream.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Nogales Highway in Sahuarita, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
The plant serves approximately 21,391 residents in the Sahuarita area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Santa Cruz River watershed, which flows into the Gila River and eventually the Colorado River system.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality or the EPA.
Plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, as required by the Clean Water Act.
Nearby plants