Overview
BATES TWP STP is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 1,021 residents in Bates Township, Michigan. It discharges 302.83 megaliters annually and operates under U.S. EPA NPDES regulations.
BATES TWP STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bates Township, Iron County, Michigan, United States. The plant serves a small population of 1,021 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community within the Upper Peninsula region. The plant provides secondary treatment, the minimum standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 378.54 megaliters per year and an annual discharge volume of 302.83 megaliters, the plant operates within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Paint River or the Menominee River system, which ultimately flows into Lake Michigan via Green Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and ecological value to the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local stream within the Lake Michigan basin, part of the Great Lakes system. The receiving waters support coldwater fisheries and are important for regional biodiversity. Downstream, the flow contributes to the Menominee River and Green Bay, which are ecologically sensitive areas requiring careful nutrient and pollutant management to prevent eutrophication and protect aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
BATES TWP STP is located in Bates Township, Iron County, Michigan, United States, in the Upper Peninsula region.
The plant serves a population of 1,021 residents, typical of a small rural community.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that flows into the Lake Michigan basin, likely via the Paint River or Menominee River system.
As a U.S. facility, BATES TWP STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by Michigan EGLE, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act, often achieved through activated sludge or lagoon systems.
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