Geauga Co Wintergreen WWTP - Advanced Treatment in Chardon Township, Ohio

Geauga Co Wintergreen WWTP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Chardon Township, Geauga County, Ohio. The plant serves a small population of 280 residents, providing tertiary-level treatment to protect local water quality. The plant operates with advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 56.78 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 37.85 megaliters, the facility is operating below its full capacity. As a US plant, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to safeguard receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Erie via the Grand River and its tributaries. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource that supports drinking water, recreation, and diverse aquatic life. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for mitigating harmful algal blooms in the lake.

The plant discharges into the Grand River watershed, which flows northward into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a rich fishery and providing drinking water for millions. The region's agricultural and urban runoff contributes to nutrient pollution, making advanced treatment at this plant important for reducing phosphorus and nitrogen loads that can fuel algal blooms.