Overview
Brigham City wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 18,586 residents in Utah, USA. The facility operates under the US Clean Water Act and EPA NPDES permitting framework.
Brigham City wastewater treatment plant is located in Box Elder County, Utah, serving a population of around 18,586 residents. The facility is situated near the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake, a terminal saline lake of major ecological significance. As a municipal plant in the United States, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a facility sized for a medium-sized agglomeration. For US plants of this scale, secondary treatment is the minimum standard, with potential for additional nutrient removal to protect sensitive receiving waters. Regulatory compliance is enforced through state and federal oversight. The treated effluent likely discharges into local waterways that drain into the Great Salt Lake, a critical habitat for migratory birds and brine shrimp. The lake's unique hypersaline ecosystem is sensitive to nutrient loading and pollutant inputs, making treatment performance important for downstream environmental health. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast (Great Salt Lake shore) underscores its role in protecting this inland water body.
Environmental context
The plant's receiving waters ultimately flow into the Great Salt Lake, a terminal lake with no outlet, making it highly sensitive to pollutant accumulation. The lake supports millions of migratory birds and a unique brine shrimp ecosystem. Nutrient discharges can contribute to algal blooms and oxygen depletion, impacting aquatic life. The plant's location in the Great Basin watershed means all treated effluent remains within the closed basin, emphasizing the need for effective treatment to maintain water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Brigham City, Box Elder County, Utah, USA, near the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake.
The plant serves approximately 18,586 residents of Brigham City and surrounding areas.
Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Great Salt Lake, a terminal saline lake in the Great Basin.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
For a US plant of this scale, secondary treatment is the minimum standard, with potential for advanced treatment if discharging to sensitive waters like the Great Salt Lake.
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