Carsonville STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Carsonville, Michigan

Carsonville STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Carsonville, Sanilac County, Michigan. Serving a small population of 502, the plant provides secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The facility is situated in a rural area of Michigan's Thumb region, approximately 50 km from the Lake Huron shoreline. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). For a facility of this scale, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 378.54 cubic meters per day and currently discharges a daily volume of 189.27 cubic meters. Treated effluent from Carsonville STP is discharged to a local waterway that ultimately drains into Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes. Lake Huron supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's operations are critical to protecting the lake's water quality and the ecological health of the surrounding watershed.

Carsonville STP discharges into a tributary of the Lake Huron basin, which flows into Lake Huron, a major freshwater ecosystem. Lake Huron supports a variety of fish species, including lake trout and walleye, and serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect the lake from eutrophication, preserving water quality for recreation and aquatic life.