Saguache Town of Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saguache County, Colorado

The Saguache Town of wastewater treatment plant is located in Saguache County, Colorado, United States. It serves a small population of 611 residents, typical of rural municipal systems in the region. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges to protect water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 567.81 m³/day, with an average daily discharge of 378.54 m³/day. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level NPDES permitting through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Rio Grande basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources, supporting agricultural and ecological uses downstream.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Rio Grande, which flows through the San Luis Valley and into the Rio Grande proper, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports irrigated agriculture and diverse aquatic habitats. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this semi-arid region, where water resources are critical for both human use and ecosystem health.