QUEMADO LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Catron County, New Mexico

QUEMADO LAGOON is a wastewater treatment facility located in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It serves a small population of 200 residents, typical of rural communities in the arid Southwest. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 113.56 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 75.71 cubic meters per day, the facility operates below its full capacity. As a lagoon system, it relies on natural biological processes in a series of ponds to treat wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into Chavez Canyon, which drains into the surrounding watershed of the San Francisco River basin. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life in an arid environment. The plant's discharge contributes to local water resources, which are critical for downstream ecosystems and human use in the semi-arid landscape of western New Mexico.

The treated effluent from QUEMADO LAGOON flows into Chavez Canyon, a tributary of the San Francisco River, which ultimately drains into the Gila River and then the Colorado River system. This arid region supports riparian habitats that are vital for migratory birds and native fish species. The plant's discharge helps maintain base flows in the canyon, which is important for sustaining aquatic life in a water-scarce environment.