FOLSOM STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Folsom, Louisiana

FOLSOM STP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Folsom, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The plant serves a small population of 531 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As an advanced treatment plant, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal than secondary treatment, which is typical for facilities in sensitive watersheds. The plant has a designed capacity of 189.27 megaliters and discharges approximately 113.56 megaliters of treated wastewater annually. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, the plant operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Advanced treatment ensures compliance with stringent standards for nutrients and other pollutants. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, an ecologically important estuary. The basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for fish and migratory birds. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting the basin's water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into streams within the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, which ultimately flows into Lake Pontchartrain and then into the Gulf of Mexico. The basin is a large estuarine system that supports diverse aquatic life, including oysters, fish, and migratory waterfowl. Advanced treatment at FOLSOM STP helps minimize nutrient pollution, which is crucial for preventing algal blooms and maintaining oxygen levels in the lake and downstream waters.