Overview
Caribou Utility District serves approximately 5,020 residents in Caribou, Maine. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, managing wastewater for this northern Maine community.
Caribou Utility District is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine. Serving a population of about 5,020, the plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure in the northernmost part of the state. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient controls depending on the receiving water body. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to a local stream or river within the Aroostook River watershed, which flows into the Saint John River and eventually to the Bay of Fundy. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting both local and transboundary water quality.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Aroostook River watershed, a tributary of the Saint John River that drains into the Bay of Fundy. This region supports diverse aquatic life, including Atlantic salmon and brook trout, and is ecologically sensitive due to its cold-water habitats. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality for downstream ecosystems and communities.
Frequently asked questions
Caribou Utility District is located at 363 Grimes Road in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine, United States.
The plant serves approximately 5,020 residents in the Caribou area.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Aroostook River watershed, which flows to the Saint John River and eventually the Bay of Fundy.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act via an NPDES permit issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which sets discharge limits and monitoring requirements.
For communities of this size, secondary treatment is standard, often including biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters, with disinfection to meet pathogen limits.
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