Yucaipa Valley WD WWTP - Calimesa, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

Yucaipa Valley WD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on West County Line Road in Calimesa, Riverside County, California. It serves an estimated population of 52,100 within the Yucaipa Valley Water District service area. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and its operations are subject to state and federal water quality regulations. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the US Clean Water Act. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board or the regional water board, govern discharge limits and monitoring requirements. Plants of this scale typically employ biological treatment followed by disinfection to meet permit conditions. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged to local waterways that ultimately drain into the Santa Ana River watershed. The Santa Ana River flows through Southern California and discharges into the Pacific Ocean near Huntington Beach. The receiving waters support aquatic habitats and are used for recreation and water supply downstream. The plant's operations play a role in protecting water quality in this arid region where water resources are critically managed.

The plant discharges into the Santa Ana River watershed, which flows through Riverside and Orange Counties before reaching the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water source for Southern California. The region's semi-arid climate and high water demand make effluent quality crucial for downstream ecosystems and water reuse opportunities.