Overview
Aberdeen STP serves approximately 23,515 residents in Aberdeen, Washington. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, discharging treated wastewater into the Grays Harbor estuary.
Aberdeen STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Aberdeen, Washington, serving a population of about 23,515. The plant is situated near the coast of Grays Harbor County, within 50 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. As a medium-sized agglomeration, it plays a key role in managing wastewater for the local community. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. Treated effluent from the plant discharges into the Grays Harbor estuary, a large coastal inlet that connects to the Pacific Ocean. This estuary supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and shellfish, and is an important ecological and economic resource for the region. The plant's operations are critical to maintaining water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Grays Harbor estuary, a major coastal ecosystem on the Washington coast that drains into the Pacific Ocean. This estuary provides critical habitat for salmon, Dungeness crab, and migratory birds. The surrounding watershed includes forested and agricultural lands, and the area's high rainfall influences runoff and treatment demands. Protecting water quality in this estuary is essential for local fisheries and recreation.
Frequently asked questions
Aberdeen STP is located at 459 South Monroe Street in Aberdeen, Washington, United States, within Grays Harbor County.
The plant serves approximately 23,515 residents in the city of Aberdeen and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Grays Harbor estuary, which flows into the Pacific Ocean.
As a U.S. facility, Aberdeen STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
Plants of this size in Washington typically employ secondary treatment processes, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet state and federal standards before discharging into sensitive coastal waters.
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