Overview
Picacho Hills Utility Company is a secondary treatment plant in Sandoval County, New Mexico, serving 824 people. It discharges 567.81 units of treated wastewater, with a designed capacity matching that volume.
Picacho Hills Utility Company operates a wastewater treatment plant in Sandoval County, New Mexico, serving a small community of 824 residents. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States. The plant has a designed capacity of 567.81 units and discharges a matching volume, indicating consistent operation. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New Mexico Environment Department to regulate discharges. The treated effluent is released into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Rio Grande, a major river in the southwestern US. The Rio Grande supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream, making proper treatment essential for water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Rio Grande basin, which flows south through New Mexico and Texas before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande is a critical water source for arid regions, supporting riparian habitats and migratory birds. Effective wastewater treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Macleish Road Northwest in Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States.
The plant serves approximately 824 people, making it a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Rio Grande basin. The discharge volume is 567.81 units, matching its designed capacity.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the New Mexico Environment Department to ensure compliance with discharge limits.
Small plants serving fewer than 10,000 people typically use secondary treatment, which removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids, as required by the Clean Water Act.
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