Chatham V WPCF, Village of Chatham

Overview

Chatham V WPCF is a wastewater treatment plant serving the Village of Chatham, New York, with a population of 2,000. It operates under the US Clean Water Act and EPA NPDES permitting framework.

Chatham V WPCF is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 15 Brookside Avenue in the Village of Chatham, Columbia County, New York. It serves a population of approximately 2,000 residents, classifying it as a small-scale facility within the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a US-based plant, Chatham V WPCF operates under the regulatory framework of the Clean Water Act, administered through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically required to meet effluent standards before discharge into receiving waters. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Hudson River watershed. The Hudson River and its tributaries support diverse aquatic life and are ecologically significant as a migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in this important regional basin.

Environmental context

The plant's treated effluent enters a local stream that flows into the Hudson River watershed, which drains southward to New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. The Hudson River estuary supports a diverse ecosystem, including striped bass and American shad, and serves as a critical habitat for migratory fish. Protecting water quality in this basin is essential for maintaining ecological balance and recreational uses.

Frequently asked questions

Chatham V WPCF is located at 15 Brookside Avenue in the Village of Chatham, Columbia County, New York, United States.

The plant serves approximately 2,000 residents in the Village of Chatham.

The plant discharges treated effluent into a local stream that flows into the Hudson River watershed, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.

As a US facility, Chatham V WPCF operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements, which set effluent limits and monitoring standards.

For small communities of this size, secondary treatment is typically required to meet EPA standards, often using activated sludge or lagoon systems to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids.