Cherry Creek V WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Cherry Creek, New York

Cherry Creek V WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cherry Creek, a town in Chautauqua County, New York. The plant serves a small population of 551 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required for most municipal facilities in the US. It has a designed capacity of 227.12 million gallons per year and currently discharges 121.13 million gallons annually, indicating it operates below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Conewango Creek or directly into the creek, which flows into the Allegheny River and eventually the Ohio River and Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's location inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Conewango Creek watershed, which flows into the Allegheny River. The Allegheny River joins the Ohio River, which empties into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This extensive river system supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as smallmouth bass and walleye. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.