Overview
Granite Creek Reeder Bay STP is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,397 people in Bonner County, Idaho. It discharges 75.71 million gallons per year into the local watershed.
Granite Creek Reeder Bay STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bonner County, Idaho, serving a population of approximately 1,397 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States under the Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 283.91 million gallons per year and currently discharges 75.71 million gallons annually. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the EPA's minimum requirements for biological treatment of wastewater, reducing organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is released into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pend Oreille River system and then to the Columbia River. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Columbia Basin, an important ecological and economic resource for the Pacific Northwest.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into Granite Creek, a tributary of the Pend Oreille River, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The watershed supports cold-water fisheries, including trout and salmon species, and is part of a region known for its pristine lakes and rivers. Protecting water quality is essential for maintaining recreational uses and aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Granite Creek Road in Bonner County, Idaho, near the town of Priest River in the northern part of the state.
The plant serves approximately 1,397 residents in the surrounding community, typical of a small municipal wastewater system.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Granite Creek, which flows into the Pend Oreille River and eventually the Columbia River system.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
Secondary treatment is standard for small communities in Idaho, meeting EPA requirements for biological treatment to protect water quality in receiving streams.
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