Rifle City of Regional WWTF, Rifle

Overview

Rifle City of Regional WWTF serves approximately 9,000 residents in Rifle, Colorado. The plant treats municipal wastewater under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations.

Rifle City of Regional WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Rifle, Colorado, serving a population of about 9,000. The plant is situated near Interstate 70 in Garfield County, within the Colorado River basin. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment oversees compliance with state water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent discharges into a tributary of the Colorado River, which flows through the arid Western Slope region before reaching Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture, municipalities, and recreation across multiple states.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Colorado River watershed, a critical water source for the southwestern United States. The river flows through the Colorado Plateau, supporting species such as the endangered Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. Downstream, the river feeds Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon, making water quality management essential for ecosystem health and downstream water users.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located at 2515 I-70 in Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado, United States.

The plant serves approximately 9,000 residents in the city of Rifle and surrounding areas.

The treated effluent is discharged into a tributary of the Colorado River, which flows through western Colorado and into the Colorado River system.

The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, requiring secondary treatment and compliance with state water quality standards.

Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection, to meet EPA effluent guidelines.