Phoenix 23rd Ave WWTP - Major Wastewater Treatment Plant in Phoenix, Arizona

The Phoenix 23rd Ave WWTP is a major wastewater treatment facility located in Phoenix, Arizona, serving a population of about 296,140. As a large municipal plant, it plays a critical role in managing wastewater for the city's residents and supporting public health and environmental protection. Under the U. S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are required to meet secondary treatment standards and operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in receiving water bodies. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Salt River and then the Gila River, contributing to the Colorado River basin. This region is arid, and water reuse and quality management are essential for sustaining downstream ecosystems and agricultural water supplies.

The plant discharges into the Salt River watershed, which flows into the Gila River and eventually the Colorado River. This arid region relies heavily on treated wastewater for maintaining river flows and supporting riparian habitats. The downstream environment includes sensitive desert aquatic ecosystems that depend on consistent water quality and flow.