GALIEN RIVER STP - New Buffalo Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

GALIEN RIVER STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in New Buffalo Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Serving a population of approximately 13,547, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing wastewater in a community near the shores of Lake Michigan. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). For a population of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, and the plant's designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day supports the community's needs. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Galien River, a tributary of Lake Michigan. This water body is part of the Great Lakes Basin, an ecologically significant system that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the river and downstream lake.

The Galien River flows through southwestern Michigan and empties into Lake Michigan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. The river and lake support a variety of fish species, including salmon and trout, and provide habitat for migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this watershed is essential for maintaining the ecological health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.