Ellisport Bay S_T Facility - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Bonner County, Idaho

The Ellisport Bay S_T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Peninsula Road in Bonner County, Idaho. Serving a population of 558, this facility provides secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from the surrounding community. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal influences, and operates as part of Idaho's wastewater infrastructure. As a secondary treatment plant, it utilizes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting typical standards for small communities. The plant has a designed capacity of 264.98 volume units and currently treats an average daily flow of 98.42 volume units, indicating operational capacity below its design limit. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated wastewater from this facility discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pend Oreille River system and then into the Columbia River basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and provides important habitat for fish species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in the surrounding lakes and rivers, contributing to the ecological health of northern Idaho.

The facility discharges into the Pend Oreille River watershed, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. This inland basin supports cold-water fisheries, including trout and salmon, and provides habitat for aquatic invertebrates. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies.