Overview
Fossil STP is a secondary treatment plant serving the town of Fossil, Oregon. It discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, supporting downstream water quality in the John Day River basin.
Fossil STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Fossil, Oregon, serving a population of approximately 545 residents. The plant is situated along the John Day Highway in Wheeler County, within the semi-arid region of north-central Oregon. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 333.12 megaliters per year and a current discharge volume of 227.13 megaliters per year, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a small agglomeration, it meets the regulatory expectations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent is discharged to a receiving water body that ultimately flows into the John Day River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life, including salmonid species, and is an important ecological corridor in the Pacific Northwest. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a watercourse that drains into the John Day River, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The John Day River basin is known for its relatively pristine condition and supports a variety of fish species, including threatened steelhead trout. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
Fossil STP is located on John Day Highway in Fossil, Wheeler County, Oregon, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 545 residents in the town of Fossil.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that flows into the John Day River, a tributary of the Columbia River.
As a U.S. facility, Fossil STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act, which Fossil STP provides.
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