Overview
GLENBARD WASTEWATER AUTHORITY serves Glen Ellyn, Illinois, treating wastewater for approximately 68,888 people. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act via NPDES permits.
GLENBARD WASTEWATER AUTHORITY is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, within DuPage County. Serving a population of around 68,888, it is a medium-to-large agglomeration that plays a key role in managing wastewater for the western suburbs of Chicago. As a US facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment as a minimum, with possible nutrient removal to meet local watershed goals. The treated effluent is discharged to local waterways that drain into the Des Plaines River system, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This downstream connection underscores the plant's role in regional water quality and the health of the Mississippi River basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Des Plaines River watershed, which flows into the Illinois River and then the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant's nutrient removal performance is critical to reducing the hypoxic zone in the Gulf.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Bemis Road in Glen Ellyn, DuPage County, Illinois, United States.
The plant serves approximately 68,888 people, making it a medium-to-large agglomeration under US EPA classifications.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways within the Des Plaines River watershed, which flows to the Illinois River and ultimately the Mississippi River.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act through an NPDES permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
Plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment as a minimum, and may include advanced nutrient removal to meet local watershed goals, especially in sensitive areas.
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