Overview
Chatham Water Pollution Control Plant serves approximately 47,000 residents in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. It is an operational municipal wastewater facility managing local sewage treatment.
The Chatham Water Pollution Control Plant is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Serving a population of around 47,292, it plays a key role in managing sewage from the city and surrounding areas within the municipality of Chatham-Kent. As a Canadian wastewater plant, it operates under provincial regulations administered by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Facilities serving populations of this scale are typically required to provide secondary treatment or higher, in line with the Canada-wide standards for wastewater systems. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in million litres per day or similar units), indicating its scale. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Thames River and then into Lake St. Clair, part of the Great Lakes system. This receiving environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for drinking water and recreation. The plant's operations help protect water quality in this sensitive Great Lakes basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Thames River, which flows into Lake St. Clair, a connecting waterway between the St. Clair River and the Detroit River within the Great Lakes system. This watershed supports diverse fish populations and is a critical migratory corridor for waterfowl. Protecting water quality here is essential for the ecological health of the Great Lakes and downstream communities.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 228 Irwin Street in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, within the municipality of Chatham-Kent.
The plant serves approximately 47,292 residents in the city of Chatham and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Thames River, which flows into Lake St. Clair, part of the Great Lakes system.
The plant operates under Ontario's provincial regulations and the Canada-wide Strategy for Municipal Wastewater Effluent, which sets standards for treatment levels and effluent quality.
In Canada, plants serving populations over 10,000 are typically required to provide at least secondary treatment, which removes organic matter and suspended solids. Some facilities may also include tertiary treatment for nutrient removal.
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