Overview
Birch Run STP serves approximately 6,500 residents in Birch Run, Michigan. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day.
Birch Run STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Birch Run, Michigan, serving a population of about 6,472. The plant is situated in Saginaw County and is part of the regional wastewater infrastructure for this community in the Great Lakes region. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. The designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day suggests the plant is sized for a small community. Facilities of this scale in Michigan typically employ conventional activated sludge or lagoon systems to meet state and federal effluent standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Saginaw River system and then into Saginaw Bay, part of Lake Huron. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for recreation and fisheries in the region.
Environmental context
The treated effluent from Birch Run STP flows into tributaries of the Saginaw River, which empties into Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting fish spawning habitats and migratory bird routes. The bay is a freshwater estuary that requires careful nutrient management to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality for both wildlife and human use.
Frequently asked questions
Birch Run STP is located at 7600 Birch Run Road in Birch Run, Saginaw County, Michigan, United States.
Birch Run STP serves approximately 6,472 residents in the Birch Run area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local tributaries that flow into the Saginaw River system, ultimately reaching Saginaw Bay in Lake Huron.
As a US facility, Birch Run STP operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
For a small community of this size, typical treatment includes primary and secondary treatment, often using activated sludge or lagoon systems, to meet state and federal effluent limits.
Nearby plants