Overview
BURNS STP serves approximately 4,306 people in Harney County, Oregon. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which drains into the Malheur Lake basin.
BURNS STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Harney County, Oregon, serving a population of around 4,306. The facility is situated in a rural, high desert region of southeastern Oregon, characterized by sagebrush steppe and seasonal wetlands. As a plant serving a small population, BURNS STP is subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. For facilities of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required to meet water quality standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The treated effluent from BURNS STP is discharged to a receiving water body that ultimately flows into the Malheur Lake basin, part of the larger Harney Basin closed basin system. This terminal lake and its surrounding wetlands provide critical habitat for migratory birds and support diverse aquatic life, making water quality management essential for ecological health.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a watercourse that drains into the Malheur Lake basin, a terminal lake system in the Harney Basin of southeastern Oregon. This closed basin is ecologically sensitive, supporting a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway. The surrounding wetlands are important for groundwater recharge and maintaining regional biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
BURNS STP is located at the Harney County Fairgrounds on South Egan Road in Harney County, Oregon, United States.
BURNS STP serves approximately 4,306 people in the Harney County area.
BURNS STP discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that flows into the Malheur Lake basin, a terminal lake system in southeastern Oregon.
BURNS STP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small municipal plants in Oregon, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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