Auburn WWTF - Ophir, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

Auburn WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ophir, Placer County, California. It serves a population of about 12,634 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. As a US facility, Auburn WWTF operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's design capacity and treatment process details are not publicly available, but regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment levels. The treated effluent from Auburn WWTF likely discharges into a tributary of the American River, which flows into the Sacramento River and then into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This delta is a critical ecological zone, supporting diverse aquatic species and serving as a major water supply for California. The plant's operations are important for protecting downstream water quality and ecosystem health.

Auburn WWTF discharges into the American River watershed, which flows into the Sacramento River and ultimately the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This delta is a vital estuarine environment that supports numerous fish species, including salmon and delta smelt, and provides water for agriculture and urban use. The plant's effluent must meet strict water quality standards to protect these downstream ecosystems, particularly regarding nutrients and pathogens that could impact aquatic life and drinking water sources.