Ricardo WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Ricardo, Texas

Ricardo WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ricardo, Kleberg County, Texas, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 100 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It is situated near U.S. Highway 77, within the broader drainage basin of the Texas Gulf Coast region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 181.70 volume units and a current discharge volume of 41.64, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a facility in the United States, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets discharge limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Ricardo WWTP is discharged into a local water body that eventually drains to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge contributes to the health of coastal ecosystems. The surrounding area supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger watershed that feeds into the Gulf, an ecologically important region for fisheries and wildlife.

The plant discharges into a local waterway that is part of the Nueces River basin or a nearby coastal drainage, ultimately flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Coast region supports critical habitats for migratory birds, fish, and marine species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to algal blooms in the Gulf.