Windmill Ranch WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Bastrop County, Texas

Windmill Ranch WWTP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Bastrop County, Texas, serving a population of approximately 1,700. The plant is situated near the Hyatt Lost Pines resort and operates as part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. With a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant provides advanced treatment. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent ultimately enters the Colorado River basin, which flows southeast through Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. The river supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the basin.

Windmill Ranch WWTP discharges into the Colorado River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The basin supports a variety of fish and wildlife species, including migratory birds along the Central Flyway. Advanced treatment reduces the risk of eutrophication in downstream reservoirs and coastal waters.