Texico Municipal WWT Plant - Secondary Treatment in Andrews County, Texas

The Texico Municipal WWT Plant is located in Andrews County, Texas, serving a small community of approximately 990 residents. This facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level for municipal wastewater plants in the United States under the Clean Water Act. As a secondary treatment plant, it utilizes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 302.83 units and currently discharges 567.81 units of treated effluent, indicating operation above its nominal capacity. Such facilities in Texas are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the broader watershed of the region. The plant's location in the arid High Plains of West Texas means water resources are particularly sensitive, and the plant plays a crucial role in protecting local groundwater and surface water quality from contamination.

The plant discharges into the local drainage system within the Llano Estacado region, which ultimately feeds into the Brazos River basin or the Colorado River basin, depending on the exact drainage. This area is ecologically sensitive due to its semi-arid climate and reliance on the Ogallala Aquifer for water supply. The plant's effluent contributes to maintaining base flows in local streams, supporting aquatic life and agricultural uses downstream.