COLFAX PSD Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fairmont, West Virginia

COLFAX PSD is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Fairmont, West Virginia, serving a small population of 301 residents. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as the minimum standard for publicly owned treatment works. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with effluent limits designed to protect water quality. The plant has a designed capacity of 264.98 volume units and a reported discharge volume of 227.13 units, indicating it operates below its design capacity. The treatment process is secondary, which typically involves biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Secondary treatment is standard for plants of this size and meets federal requirements under the Clean Water Act. Treated effluent from COLFAX PSD is discharged into local streams that drain into the Monongahela River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Monongahela River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's location in the Appalachian region means it operates in a watershed influenced by both natural forested areas and historical industrial activity, making proper treatment essential for maintaining ecological health.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Monongahela River, which joins the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River. The Monongahela River basin supports a variety of fish species and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The surrounding Appalachian region has a history of coal mining, which can affect water quality through acid mine drainage, making the plant's secondary treatment role critical in preventing additional pollution.