Hailey Woodside S/T Facility | Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hailey, Idaho

The Hailey Woodside S/T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hailey, Blaine County, Idaho. It serves a population of around 12,960 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal waters, and its operations are governed by the US Clean Water Act through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. Plants of this scale in Idaho typically employ secondary treatment or advanced treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The facility is subject to NPDES permit requirements that set effluent limits for pollutants to protect receiving waters. The regulatory framework ensures that the plant's discharge does not harm the local environment. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a tributary of the Big Wood River, which flows through the Wood River Valley and eventually joins the Snake River. The Snake River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, which drains into the Pacific Ocean. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including trout species, and the plant's operations are critical for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The Hailey Woodside S/T Facility discharges into the Big Wood River watershed, which flows into the Snake River and ultimately the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. The Big Wood River supports a cold-water fishery, including native trout species, and is used for irrigation and recreation. The plant's discharge must meet stringent water quality standards to protect these downstream uses and the ecological health of the river system.