Gowanda V WWTP - Village of Gowanda, New York Wastewater Treatment

Gowanda V WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 202 Aldrich Street in the Village of Gowanda, Erie County, New York. It serves a population of about 7,230 people, classifying it as a small to medium-sized plant within the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) through the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit program. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment to meet effluent standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway, which ultimately drains into the Lake Erie basin via Cattaraugus Creek. This connection to the Great Lakes system underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources.

The plant's discharge enters a tributary of Cattaraugus Creek, which flows into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and smallmouth bass, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this basin is critical for maintaining the ecological health of Lake Erie, which faces challenges from nutrient pollution and algal blooms.