DEERFIELD ARGENTINE WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Summerfield Township, Michigan

DEERFIELD ARGENTINE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Summerfield Township, Monroe County, Michigan. The plant serves a small population of 1,005 residents, providing secondary treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the minimum requirements under the US Clean Water Act for publicly owned treatment works. The plant has a designed capacity of 529.96 units and currently treats an average daily flow of 302.83 units, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The facility is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Lake Erie basin via the Maumee River or Raisin River watershed. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Maumee River or Raisin River, both of which flow into western Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a major fishery and providing drinking water. The region faces challenges from nutrient runoff, and the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loads that can contribute to harmful algal blooms in the lake.