Bolinas WWTF - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Bolinas, California

Bolinas WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bolinas, Marin County, California. The plant serves a small coastal community of approximately 885 residents, reflecting its role in managing local wastewater in a rural, environmentally sensitive area. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small US communities under the Clean Water Act. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity of 246.05 units and current discharge volume of 174.13 units indicate operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the Pacific Ocean via the Bolinas Lagoon ecosystem, a critical habitat for migratory birds and marine life. The plant's coastal location requires compliance with stringent California Ocean Plan standards to protect water quality and marine ecosystems.

Bolinas WWTF discharges into the Bolinas Lagoon, a coastal estuary that connects to the Pacific Ocean. This lagoon supports diverse aquatic life, including fish, birds, and marine mammals, and serves as an important stopover for migratory shorebirds. The plant's operations are subject to California's strict ocean discharge regulations to minimize nutrient and pathogen impacts on this sensitive coastal environment.