Geauga Co Surrey Downs WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Chardon, Ohio

Geauga Co Surrey Downs WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Chardon, Ohio, within Geauga County. The plant serves a small population of 120 residents, reflecting its role as a local-scale treatment facility in a suburban setting near the Lake Erie watershed. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. It has a designed capacity of 37.85 cubic meters per day, matching its current discharge volume. As a small facility, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately drains into the Lake Erie basin, part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Erie is the fourth-largest of the Great Lakes and supports diverse aquatic life, including important fish species. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can directly influence nearshore water quality, making proper treatment essential for protecting the lake's ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Lake Erie watershed, which drains into the Great Lakes system and eventually the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse aquatic life, including walleye, perch, and migratory waterfowl. The nearshore zone is ecologically sensitive, with wetlands and spawning habitats that require protection from nutrient and pollutant loads. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic matter and suspended solids, but additional nutrient removal may be needed to prevent algal blooms in the lake.