Carlyon Beach WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Washington, USA

Carlyon Beach WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Carlyon Beach, Thurston County, Washington, United States. The plant serves a small population of 385 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or coastal community. It is situated near the coast, within 10 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Its designed capacity is 454.25 megaliters, with an actual discharge volume of 227.13 megaliters, indicating it operates well below capacity. As a small facility, it is likely regulated under an EPA NPDES permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Puget Sound or the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems of the region, including shellfish beds and salmon habitats, by reducing pollutant loads from the community.

The plant discharges into a coastal watershed that flows into the Puget Sound, a large estuarine system connected to the Pacific Ocean. This area supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs and shellfish populations, which are sensitive to nutrient and pathogen pollution. Secondary treatment helps mitigate impacts on these ecologically important waters.