Overview
CANAAN WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving 2,042 people in Canaan, Vermont. It discharges 560.24 million gallons per year into local waterways, operating under US EPA NPDES regulations.
CANAAN WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Canaan, Vermont, serving a population of approximately 2,042 residents. The plant is situated in Essex County, near the Connecticut River watershed, and plays a key role in managing wastewater for this rural community. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 719.23 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 560.24 million gallons, it operates below capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Connecticut River, which ultimately drains into Long Island Sound. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in this ecologically important region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Connecticut River, which flows southward through New England and empties into Long Island Sound. This watershed supports a variety of fish species, including Atlantic salmon and American shad, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The Connecticut River estuary is an ecologically sensitive area that benefits from effective wastewater treatment to reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
CANAAN WWTP is located at 281 Treatment Plant Road, Canaan, Vermont, in Essex County, near the Connecticut River watershed.
The plant serves approximately 2,042 residents in the Canaan area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that flow into the Connecticut River, which ultimately reaches Long Island Sound.
As a US facility, CANAAN WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, which sets limits on pollutant discharges.
For small communities in Vermont, secondary treatment is standard, as required by the Clean Water Act. This level effectively removes organic matter and suspended solids to protect receiving waters.
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