PCRWRD Ina Road WPCF - Marana, Arizona Wastewater Treatment Plant

PCRWRD Ina Road WPCF is a major wastewater treatment facility located in Marana, Arizona, serving a population of approximately 313,000. As part of the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department, it plays a key role in managing wastewater for the greater Tucson area. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. The plant is expected to meet federal and state discharge standards to protect downstream water quality. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Santa Cruz River, which flows south into Mexico and eventually contributes to the Gulf of California. The river supports riparian habitats and is an important water source for agriculture and wildlife in the arid Southwest.

The plant discharges into the Santa Cruz River, a vital watercourse in the Sonoran Desert that flows through Arizona and into Mexico. The river supports diverse riparian ecosystems, including cottonwood-willow forests and mesquite bosques, which provide habitat for migratory birds and endangered species like the southwestern willow flycatcher. Downstream, the river contributes to the Gulf of California, a biologically rich marine environment.