Overview
Georgetown S_T Facility is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Bear Lake County, Idaho, serving 476 people. It discharges 223.34 megaliters annually and has a designed capacity of 529.96 megaliters.
The Georgetown S_T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. It serves a small population of 476 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the Clean Water Act for most municipal facilities to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 529.96 megaliters, with an actual discharge volume of 223.34 megaliters, indicating operational headroom. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Bear Lake watershed. Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake straddling the Idaho-Utah border, known for its turquoise waters and unique aquatic ecosystem. The plant's discharge contributes to the lake's water balance and must comply with state water quality standards to protect downstream habitats and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Bear Lake watershed, which drains into Bear Lake, a large natural lake known for its high water clarity and endemic fish species such as the Bonneville cisco. The lake ultimately flows into the Bear River, which connects to the Great Salt Lake via the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use make water quality management critical for sustaining both aquatic life and irrigation needs.
Frequently asked questions
The Georgetown S_T Facility is located in Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States, near the town of Georgetown. It serves a rural community in the Bear Lake Valley.
The plant serves a population of 476 people, making it a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility typical of rural Idaho communities.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Bear Lake watershed. The watershed drains into Bear Lake and eventually the Bear River system.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. This process removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates NPDES permits for all point-source discharges. For small plants like this, permits typically set limits on BOD, TSS, and other pollutants to protect local water quality.
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