Bridger Pines County W and S District Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gallatin County, Montana

Bridger Pines County W and S District is a wastewater treatment plant located in Gallatin County, Montana, serving a small population of 20 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. The plant has a designed capacity of 7.57 million gallons per day and discharges a similar volume, indicating it operates at full capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. The treated effluent is released into local streams that drain into the Yellowstone River basin, eventually reaching the Missouri River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this rural, mountainous region of Montana.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Yellowstone River, which flows through Montana and Wyoming before joining the Missouri River. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life, including trout and other cold-water species. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and agricultural land use, making proper wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality.