Overview
Cambridge Sewage Lagoon is a secondary treatment plant serving 328 people in Cambridge, Idaho. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, operating under US EPA and Idaho DEQ regulations.
Cambridge Sewage Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located along US 95 in Cambridge, Washington County, Idaho. The plant serves a small population of 328 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. As a lagoon-based system, it provides secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 590.52 cubic meters, indicating it operates below capacity. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, which set limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from Cambridge Sewage Lagoon discharges to local streams that ultimately flow into the Snake River basin, a major tributary of the Columbia River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural water use downstream. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects the ecological health of the region's surface waters.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters small tributaries within the Snake River watershed, which drains into the Columbia River and eventually the Pacific Ocean. This region is part of the semi-arid Intermountain West, where water resources are critical for irrigation and wildlife. The Snake River supports several fish species, including salmon and steelhead, making nutrient and pathogen control important for downstream ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Cambridge Sewage Lagoon is located along US 95 in Cambridge, Washington County, Idaho, United States.
The plant serves a population of 328 residents in the Cambridge area.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Snake River watershed, which flows into the Columbia River and ultimately the Pacific Ocean.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality through an NPDES permit, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small communities in Idaho, lagoon-based secondary treatment is common. The US Clean Water Act requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater, which is achieved through biological processes in aerated or facultative lagoons.
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