Overview
Findlay WWTP and Sewer System serves approximately 42,500 residents in Findlay, Ohio. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Blanchard River, a tributary of the Maumee River that flows into Lake Erie.
The Findlay WWTP and Sewer System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 785 River Street in Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio. Serving a population of about 42,500, the plant is a key component of the city's infrastructure, managing wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources in this northwestern Ohio community. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. For a population of this scale, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, with potential additional nutrient removal standards due to the plant's discharge into the Lake Erie watershed, which is subject to phosphorus reduction targets under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Blanchard River, which flows northward to join the Maumee River near Defiance, Ohio. The Maumee River then empties into the western basin of Lake Erie, a freshwater ecosystem that has experienced harmful algal blooms linked to nutrient pollution. The plant plays a critical role in protecting downstream water quality and the ecological health of the Maumee River and Lake Erie.
Environmental context
The Findlay WWTP discharges into the Blanchard River, a tributary of the Maumee River, which ultimately flows into the western basin of Lake Erie. This watershed is part of the larger Lake Erie drainage basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is a vital freshwater resource. The region faces challenges from nutrient loading, particularly phosphorus, which contributes to harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. The plant's operations are therefore important for maintaining water quality in the Blanchard and Maumee rivers and for reducing nutrient inputs to Lake Erie.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 785 River Street in Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio, United States.
The plant serves approximately 42,498 residents in the city of Findlay and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Blanchard River, which flows into the Maumee River and eventually into Lake Erie.
As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
For a population of this size, secondary treatment is standard. Additionally, plants discharging into the Lake Erie watershed may be required to implement phosphorus removal to address nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms.
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