Overview
BIRCHWOOD STP is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 540 residents in Birchwood, Wisconsin. It discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, contributing to the protection of downstream water quality.
BIRCHWOOD STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on West Park Avenue in Birchwood, Washburn County, Wisconsin. Serving a population of 540, this plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater in a rural community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under the US Clean Water Act for facilities of this scale. It has a designed capacity of 242.27 volume units and a current discharge volume of 204.41, indicating operational capacity within its design parameters. The plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, which sets effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from BIRCHWOOD STP is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River Basin. This discharge contributes to the overall water quality management of the region, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses. The plant's location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact but still requires careful management to prevent nutrient loading in freshwater systems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local watercourse that is part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, a major watershed that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish and macroinvertebrate communities. Downstream, the Mississippi River carries nutrient loads that can contribute to hypoxic zones in the Gulf, making effective nutrient removal at treatment plants like BIRCHWOOD STP important for regional water quality.
Frequently asked questions
BIRCHWOOD STP is located on West Park Avenue in Birchwood, Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States.
BIRCHWOOD STP serves a population of 540 residents in the Birchwood area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that is part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, ultimately flowing to the Gulf of Mexico.
BIRCHWOOD STP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater.
The plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. For a small community like Birchwood, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet permit requirements.
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