Baileys Harbor STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Town of Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

Baileys Harbor STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Baileys Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin. It serves a population of approximately 1,400 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from this small lakeside community. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 802.50 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 189.27 m³/day, the plant has ample capacity for current demand. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the Lake Michigan watershed, likely via a local stream or direct outfall. Lake Michigan is a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse aquatic life, recreational activities, and drinking water supplies. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge must meet stringent water quality standards to protect the sensitive nearshore environment.

The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan basin, part of the Great Lakes system, which ultimately drains to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. Lake Michigan supports a complex ecosystem including native fish species, migratory birds, and aquatic plants. The nearshore zone is ecologically sensitive, with spawning grounds and wetlands that require protection from nutrient loading and contaminants. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce biological oxygen demand and suspended solids, but nutrient removal may be limited without tertiary processes.