DUFUR STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wasco County, Oregon

DUFUR STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The facility serves a small community of 600 people, reflecting its role in managing local wastewater in a rural setting. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 227.12 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 166.56 megaliters, the plant operates below its full capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Columbia River system. This river basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Pacific Northwest. The plant's operations are subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with water quality standards.

The plant discharges into the Columbia River basin, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The watershed supports salmon and steelhead runs, making water quality critical for fish habitat and downstream ecosystems. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use place additional importance on maintaining low nutrient loads to prevent algal blooms.