Overview
FIFE LAKE STP is a secondary treatment plant serving 933 residents in Fife Lake, Michigan. It discharges 378.54 m³/day of treated wastewater, with a designed capacity of 605.66 m³/day.
FIFE LAKE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The plant serves a population of approximately 933 residents, reflecting a small community in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal plants. The plant has a designed capacity of 605.66 m³/day and currently discharges 378.54 m³/day of treated effluent. As a U.S. facility, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting federal effluent guidelines. The treated wastewater is discharged to a local water body within the Grand Traverse Bay watershed, which ultimately drains to Lake Michigan. This region is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Boardman River, which flows into Grand Traverse Bay and then Lake Michigan. This watershed supports coldwater fisheries, including trout and salmon, and is a vital resource for recreation and tourism. The secondary treatment process reduces pollutants that could otherwise harm aquatic habitats in this sensitive Great Lakes coastal environment.
Frequently asked questions
FIFE LAKE STP is located in Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States. The facility serves the local community in the northern Lower Peninsula.
The plant serves a population of 933 residents, classifying it as a small municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent to a local water body within the Grand Traverse Bay watershed, which ultimately flows into Lake Michigan. The discharge volume averages 378.54 m³/day.
As a U.S. facility, FIFE LAKE STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated via an NPDES permit issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Secondary treatment is the minimum standard for municipal plants.
For small communities in Michigan, secondary treatment is standard. This involves biological processes to remove organic matter and solids, meeting federal effluent limits. The plant's designed capacity of 605.66 m³/day accommodates peak flows.
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