Overview
Cayuga Heights V STP serves the Town of Ithaca, New York, treating wastewater for approximately 8,044 residents. The plant discharges into the local watershed, ultimately draining into Cayuga Lake.
Cayuga Heights V STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York. Serving a population of about 8,044, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges into surface waters. As a plant serving a small to medium-sized community, typical treatment includes secondary biological processes to meet effluent standards. Plants of this scale in New York generally employ activated sludge or similar technologies to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The facility's capacity and discharge volume are managed to comply with state and federal regulations. The treated effluent from Cayuga Heights V STP is discharged into the Cayuga Lake basin, part of the larger Lake Ontario watershed. Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes and supports diverse aquatic life, including cold-water fisheries. The plant's operations are critical to protecting water quality in the lake, which is used for recreation, drinking water, and ecological habitat.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Cayuga Lake watershed, which drains northward into Lake Ontario and eventually the St. Lawrence River. Cayuga Lake is a deep, cold-water lake that supports a variety of fish species, including lake trout and landlocked salmon. The surrounding watershed includes agricultural and residential areas, making nutrient management important to prevent algal blooms. The plant's effluent must meet stringent limits to protect the lake's ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
Cayuga Heights V STP is located at 951 East Shore Drive in the Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, United States.
The plant serves approximately 8,044 residents in the Town of Ithaca and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Cayuga Lake watershed, which flows into Lake Ontario and eventually the St. Lawrence River.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Plants of this scale typically use secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet state and federal effluent standards.
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