Bartlett Bay STP - South Burlington, Vermont Wastewater Treatment Plant

Bartlett Bay STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 23 Bartlett Bay Road in South Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont. It serves a population of about 8,510 people, making it a medium-sized facility within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For facilities of this scale, secondary treatment is typically mandated, and permits include effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is sized to handle current and future flows. Bartlett Bay STP discharges into the Lake Champlain watershed, a large freshwater lake that drains northward into the Richelieu River and eventually the St. Lawrence River. Lake Champlain is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a critical water resource for the region. The plant's treatment performance directly affects the lake's water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Lake Champlain basin, which drains via the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Champlain is a large freshwater lake that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species and migratory birds. The watershed is sensitive to nutrient pollution, particularly phosphorus, which can cause algal blooms. Effective treatment at Bartlett Bay STP helps protect the lake's ecological health and recreational uses.