Overview
WALSENBURG STP is a secondary treatment plant serving 3,600 people in Walsenburg, Colorado. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, operating under U.S. EPA and state regulations.
WALSENBURG STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Walsenburg, Huerfano County, Colorado. It serves a population of approximately 3,600 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from the community. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water infrastructure in southern Colorado. The plant employs secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 volume units and an average daily discharge of 817.65 volume units, the facility operates below its maximum capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local receiving waters, likely tributaries of the Arkansas River basin, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats and contributing to the overall water quality of the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local streams within the Arkansas River watershed, which drains into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This inland basin supports diverse aquatic life and is used for agriculture and recreation. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
WALSENBURG STP is located at Industrial Park Drive in Walsenburg, Huerfano County, Colorado, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 3,600 people in the Walsenburg area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Arkansas River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater.
As a U.S. facility, WALSENBURG STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, ensuring its discharge meets water quality standards.
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