CLARION AREA AUTH STP - Clarion, Pennsylvania Wastewater Treatment Plant

CLARION AREA AUTH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Clarion, Pennsylvania, United States. It serves a population of approximately 17,256 people in Clarion County, situated in the western part of the state. The plant is part of the region's essential water infrastructure, managing domestic wastewater from the community. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program governs its discharge, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. Plants serving populations around 17,000 typically employ biological treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Allegheny River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Allegheny River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operations help protect this vital watershed from nutrient pollution and pathogens, contributing to the ecological health of the Ohio River basin.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body that flows into the Allegheny River, which joins the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River system. The Allegheny River watershed supports diverse fish species, including smallmouth bass and walleye, and provides habitat for freshwater mussels. Protecting this watershed from untreated wastewater is critical for maintaining water quality and recreational uses.