WALDEN WWTP - Jackson County, Colorado Wastewater Treatment Plant

WALDEN WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Jackson County, Colorado, serving a population of approximately 1,000 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 794.93 megaliters and treats an annual discharge volume of 302.83 megaliters. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which set effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the North Platte River basin, ultimately contributing to the Platte River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this high-altitude, semi-arid region.

The plant discharges into streams within the North Platte River watershed, which flows through Colorado and Wyoming before joining the Platte River in Nebraska. This basin supports cold-water fisheries, including trout species, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for sustaining local ecosystems and downstream water users.