Overview
Butte Silver Bow City County wastewater treatment plant serves Butte, Montana, USA. It treats municipal wastewater for approximately 27,600 residents, discharging into the local watershed.
The Butte Silver Bow City County wastewater treatment plant is located in Butte, Montana, United States, serving a population of approximately 27,600 residents. The plant is situated in the Smelter District of Butte, within Silver Bow County, and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the city. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for discharges into surface waters. Treatment standards for plants of this scale typically include secondary treatment as a minimum, with additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive waters. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Silver Bow Creek watershed, which flows into the Clark Fork River and eventually reaches the Columbia River system and the Pacific Ocean. The receiving waters support aquatic life and are part of a region historically impacted by mining activities, making water quality management important for ecological recovery.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into Silver Bow Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork River, which flows through western Montana before joining the Columbia River and draining into the Pacific Ocean. The watershed is part of the larger Columbia River Basin, supporting diverse aquatic species including trout and salmon. The area has a history of mining contamination, so the plant's treatment plays a role in protecting downstream water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 603 Centennial Avenue in Butte, Montana, within Silver Bow County.
The plant serves approximately 27,600 residents in the Butte area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Silver Bow Creek, which flows into the Clark Fork River and eventually reaches the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to regulate discharges.
Under the Clean Water Act, plants of this size typically provide at least secondary treatment, which uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
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