Allen Co American Bath WWTP - Elida, Ohio Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Allen Co American Bath WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Elida, Ohio, serving a population of about 5,999. Situated in Allen County, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater from the community. As a small-to-medium agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment under the US Clean Water Act, administered through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency typically issues permits for such facilities, setting effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from the plant eventually reaches the Ottawa River, a tributary of the Maumee River, which flows into Lake Erie. This watershed 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 discharges into the Ottawa River, which flows into the Maumee River and ultimately into Lake Erie, the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes. The Maumee River watershed is a major contributor of nutrients to Lake Erie, where algal blooms are a recurring concern. The plant's treatment processes help reduce nutrient loads, supporting the health of this vital freshwater ecosystem.