Ferndale STP, Ferndale | United States Wastewater

Overview

Ferndale STP serves approximately 11,530 residents in Ferndale, Washington. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day.

Ferndale STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ferndale, Washington, serving a population of about 11,530. The plant is situated in Whatcom County, near the coast of the Salish Sea, and plays a key role in managing local wastewater. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the U.S. Clean Water Act, regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating the scale of treatment infrastructure. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Salish Sea via the Nooksack River or nearby coastal waters. This area supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs and marine species, making effective wastewater treatment critical for ecosystem health.

Environmental context

The plant's discharge enters the Nooksack River basin, which flows into Bellingham Bay and the Salish Sea. This coastal watershed supports critical salmon habitat and diverse marine ecosystems. Effective treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, which is influenced by tidal flows and seasonal freshwater inputs.

Frequently asked questions

Ferndale STP is located in Ferndale, Whatcom County, Washington, United States, near the coast of the Salish Sea.

Ferndale STP serves approximately 11,530 residents in the Ferndale area.

The treated effluent from Ferndale STP is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Nooksack River and ultimately into Bellingham Bay and the Salish Sea.

Ferndale STP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with discharge regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this size are typically required to provide secondary treatment, which removes at least 85% of organic matter and suspended solids.