Cattaraugus V WWTP and Onsites - Secondary Treatment Plant in Cattaraugus, New York

Cattaraugus V WWTP and Onsites is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cattaraugus, New York, within the Town of New Albion. The plant serves a small population of about 495 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community in Cattaraugus County. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 227.12 megaliters per year and currently treats an annual volume of 151.42 megaliters, operating below its capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Secondary treatment is the standard requirement for municipal plants, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Lake Erie basin via the Cattaraugus Creek watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Great Lakes ecosystem, which is ecologically sensitive. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and the health of the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into a tributary of Cattaraugus Creek, which flows into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. The Great Lakes are a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse fish populations and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protects the ecological balance of the watershed.