CONCRETE TREATMENT Wastewater Plant, Concrete, Washington

CONCRETE TREATMENT is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Concrete, Washington, a small town in Skagit County. The plant serves a population of 641 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 143.85 million gallons per year, the plant's discharge volume matches its capacity, indicating full utilization. As a small facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the Skagit River, which flows westward through the North Cascades to Puget Sound. The Skagit River supports critical habitat for salmon and steelhead, including Chinook salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act. The plant's operations are essential for maintaining water quality in this ecologically significant watershed.

The plant discharges into the Skagit River, which drains the North Cascades and flows into Skagit Bay, part of Puget Sound. The river supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs that are vital to the regional ecosystem and local tribal fisheries. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its role in sustaining threatened fish species and providing habitat for migratory birds.