Overview
Silverton Town of wastewater treatment plant in Silverton, Colorado, serves 850 residents with advanced treatment. It discharges 378.54 megaliters annually and has a designed capacity of 1589.87 megaliters.
The Silverton Town of wastewater treatment plant is located on Champion Mine Road in Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado. This facility serves a small population of approximately 850 residents in this historic mountain community situated in the San Juan Mountains. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, meeting high standards for effluent quality. With a designed capacity of 1589.87 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 378.54 megaliters, the facility operates well below its capacity. As a US plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Animas River and ultimately the Colorado River Basin. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for downstream communities and ecosystems in the arid Southwest.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the headwaters of the Animas River, a tributary of the San Juan River, which flows into the Colorado River and eventually the Gulf of California. This high-altitude watershed supports cold-water fisheries, including native cutthroat trout, and provides critical water resources for the Four Corners region. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive mountain ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Champion Mine Road in Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado, in the San Juan Mountains.
The plant serves approximately 850 residents in the town of Silverton and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges 378.54 megaliters of treated wastewater annually.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants, ensuring high-quality effluent.
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