Avila Beach WWTF - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Avila Beach, California

Avila Beach WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant serves a small coastal community of approximately 500 residents, operating as part of the region's water infrastructure. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal plants discharging to surface waters. With a designed capacity of 757.08 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 227.13 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity. As a small coastal plant, it is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board, which set effluent limits to protect marine water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the Pacific Ocean, contributing to the coastal ecosystem of San Luis Obispo County. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local marine environment from untreated sewage, supporting water quality for recreation and aquatic life along this stretch of the California coast.

The plant discharges into the Pacific Ocean near Avila Beach, a coastal area within the California Current System. This region supports diverse marine life, including kelp forests, fish, and marine mammals. The discharge point is within 10 km of the coast, making the plant's effluent quality critical for nearshore water quality and public health. The local watershed drains from the Santa Lucia Range to the ocean, and the plant helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen loading to the marine environment.