BRUNEAU S_T FACILITY - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Bruneau, Idaho

The BRUNEAU S_T FACILITY is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Bruneau, Owyhee County, Idaho, United States. It serves a small population of 212 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated near the intersection of Idaho State Highways 51 and 78. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for most municipal plants. Its designed capacity is 87.06 million gallons per year, with an actual discharge volume of 60.57 million gallons per year. As a small plant in Idaho, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Snake River, which flows into the Columbia River and ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality in the Bruneau area, a semi-arid region where water resources are critical for agriculture and ecosystems.

The plant's discharge enters a local watercourse that drains into the Snake River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The Snake River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead, and is an important migratory corridor. The downstream environment includes agricultural lands and sensitive riparian habitats. Protecting water quality in this arid region is essential for both ecological health and human use.