Overview
Chowchilla WWTP serves approximately 8,040 residents in Chowchilla, California. The facility operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater.
Chowchilla WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Chowchilla, Madera County, California. The plant serves a population of approximately 8,040 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, municipal wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically required to provide secondary treatment. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board, governs discharge limits and monitoring requirements for the facility. The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that ultimately drain into the San Joaquin River basin. The San Joaquin River flows through California's Central Valley and empties into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is a critical ecological and water supply resource for the state.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the San Joaquin River watershed, a vital waterway in California's Central Valley. The San Joaquin River supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural irrigation, and its flow contributes to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, an ecologically sensitive estuary. The delta provides habitat for fish species such as Chinook salmon and Delta smelt, and its water quality is closely monitored to protect both ecosystem health and municipal water supplies.
Frequently asked questions
Chowchilla WWTP is located at 76 South 1st Street in Chowchilla, Madera County, California, United States.
The plant serves approximately 8,040 residents in the city of Chowchilla and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the San Joaquin River basin, ultimately reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this scale are generally required to provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
Nearby plants