Overview
Bluffton WWTP and Sewers serves approximately 3,896 residents in Bluffton, Ohio. The plant operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations, ensuring treated wastewater meets federal standards before discharge.
Bluffton WWTP and Sewers is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Snider Road in Bluffton, Ohio, within Allen County. The plant serves a population of about 3,896 people, classifying it as a small community system under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which is part of the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires secondary treatment as a baseline for municipal wastewater plants, with more stringent standards for sensitive receiving waters. The plant's design and operation are subject to state-level oversight by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The treated effluent from Bluffton WWTP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Lake Erie basin via the Maumee River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in northwestern Ohio. The plant's performance is critical to maintaining water quality in the region's streams and rivers.
Environmental context
Bluffton WWTP discharges into the Blanchard River watershed, which flows into the Maumee River and then into Lake Erie. This basin is part of the Great Lakes ecosystem, supporting diverse fish populations and migratory birds. The area is predominantly agricultural, and nutrient management is a key concern to prevent algal blooms in Lake Erie.
Frequently asked questions
Bluffton WWTP and Sewers is located on Snider Road in Bluffton, Ohio, within Richland Township, Allen County, United States.
The plant serves approximately 3,896 residents of Bluffton, Ohio, classifying it as a small community wastewater system.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that flow into the Blanchard River, part of the Maumee River basin, which ultimately drains into Lake Erie.
As a U.S. facility, Bluffton WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this size are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum, which typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
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