Genesee County District 3 WWTP - Livingston County, Michigan Wastewater Treatment

Genesee County District 3 WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Livingston County, Michigan, serving a population of about 17,470. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain to the Great Lakes basin. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to 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, with additional nutrient removal standards applicable in the Great Lakes watershed to address eutrophication concerns. The plant's treated effluent enters the local watershed, which flows into the Shiawassee River and eventually into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. This region is part of the larger Great Lakes ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for both ecological health and human use.

The plant discharges into the Shiawassee River watershed, which flows into the Saginaw River and then into Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. This area is part of the Great Lakes basin, a globally significant freshwater ecosystem. The watershed supports diverse fish populations and migratory birds, and nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms in the bay. The plant's location inland reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge affects the sensitive Great Lakes environment.