Bloomington S_T Facility Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bloomington, Idaho

The Bloomington S_T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Bloomington Bottoms Road in Bloomington, Bear Lake County, Idaho. It serves a small population of 206 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard for municipal wastewater under the US Clean Water Act. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 75.71 thousand cubic meters per year, matching the current discharge volume. The plant is part of Idaho's wastewater infrastructure, regulated by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Bear Lake, a natural freshwater lake straddling the Idaho-Utah border. Bear Lake is known for its unique aquatic ecosystem and supports recreational activities. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in this sensitive lake environment.

The Bloomington S_T Facility discharges treated wastewater into the Bear Lake watershed. Bear Lake is a large natural lake that drains via the Bear River into the Great Salt Lake. The lake supports a unique ecosystem with endemic fish species and is an important recreational resource. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing algal blooms and maintaining water quality in this sensitive lake environment.