Alpine County Service District Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alpine, Oregon

The Alpine County Service District operates a secondary wastewater treatment plant located in Alpine, Oregon, within Benton County. Serving a population of 191, this facility is designed to handle a capacity of 75.71 million gallons per year, with an annual discharge volume matching that figure. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and treats wastewater for this small rural community. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. For a small population of under 500, this level of treatment is typical and ensures compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Willamette River basin, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Willamette River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs, and the plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality in this ecologically important watershed.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Willamette River, which then joins the Columbia River before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Willamette River basin is a critical habitat for several fish species, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The secondary treatment process helps protect these downstream ecosystems by reducing pollutants before discharge.