BEULAH STP - Benzonia Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

BEULAH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Benzonia Township, Benzie County, Michigan, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,296 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 378.54 megaliters per year and an annual discharge volume of 302.83 megaliters, the facility operates below its design capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current flows. The plant's treated effluent discharges into a receiving water body that ultimately drains to Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. This sensitive freshwater ecosystem supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's coastal location within 10 km of Lake Michigan underscores the importance of its treatment performance in protecting water quality.

The plant discharges into a water body that flows into Lake Michigan, a large freshwater lake that is part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Michigan supports a diverse ecosystem including fish species such as lake trout and whitefish, and serves as a critical water resource. The coastal location means treated effluent enters a sensitive environment where nutrient loading can affect algal growth and water clarity.