BELLAIRE STP - Kearney Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

BELLAIRE STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Kearney Township, Antrim County, Michigan, serving a small community of approximately 1,164 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges to protect water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 810.08 units and an average daily discharge of 492.10 units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Lake Michigan basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream ecosystems, including the Grand Traverse Bay region, by reducing pollutant loads before discharge. Its location inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact.

BELLAIRE STP discharges into a receiving water body within the Lake Michigan watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Michigan. The area supports diverse aquatic life, including cold-water fish species, and the plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality standards for recreation and ecosystem health. The facility's inland location reduces direct coastal impacts, but its discharge contributes to the overall nutrient and pollutant load entering the Great Lakes system.