FAIRCHILD STP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Town of Fairchild, Wisconsin

FAIRCHILD STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Town of Fairchild, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Serving a population of 564, the plant provides secondary treatment to meet Clean Water Act standards. Its designed capacity is 306.62 megaliters, with an annual discharge volume of 189.27 megaliters. The plant operates under the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits for pollutants to protect water quality. As a small agglomeration, it is subject to state-level oversight by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with secondary treatment requirements. Treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Chippewa River watershed, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the region's freshwater resources.

The plant discharges into the Chippewa River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and smallmouth bass. The region's coldwater streams are sensitive to nutrient loading, making secondary treatment essential for preserving ecological balance.