Gogebic Iron WWA STP - Ironwood, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

Gogebic Iron WWA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ironwood, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula. It serves a population of about 12,612 people, classifying it as a medium-sized facility under US regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal waters, and its discharge ultimately flows into the Lake Superior basin. As a US facility, 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 plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal to protect the sensitive Great Lakes ecosystem. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a facility sized for the local population. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Lake Superior watershed. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes by volume and supports a diverse aquatic ecosystem, including native fish species and migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical due to the lake's role in regional drinking water, recreation, and ecological health.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Lake Superior basin, one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the world. Lake Superior's cold, oligotrophic waters support native species such as lake trout and whitefish, and the watershed provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The region's forested landscape and iron-rich geology influence local water chemistry, making nutrient management important to prevent algal blooms in nearshore areas.