AKRON FAIRGROVE STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Fairgrove Township, Michigan

AKRON FAIRGROVE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Fairgrove Township, Tuscola County, Michigan. The plant serves a population of 1,522 and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 605.66 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 492.10, the plant operates within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. This region is part of the Great Lakes Basin, an ecologically significant freshwater system that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can directly impact nearshore water quality.

The plant's treated effluent flows into the Saginaw Bay watershed, part of the Lake Huron basin. Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes, a globally significant freshwater ecosystem that supports fisheries, recreation, and biodiversity. The nearshore areas of Saginaw Bay are ecologically sensitive, hosting spawning grounds for fish and habitat for migratory birds. The plant's coastal location means its nutrient and pollutant loads can influence algal blooms and water clarity in the bay.