Overview
Hartstene Pointe STP is a secondary treatment plant in Mason County, Washington, serving 860 people. It discharges 704.09 units of treated wastewater near the coast of Puget Sound.
Hartstene Pointe STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Mason County, Washington, United States. It serves a small community of 860 residents on Hartstene Island, providing secondary treatment for domestic wastewater. The plant is situated in a coastal environment within 10 kilometers of Puget Sound. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. With a designed capacity of 704.08 units and a discharge volume of 704.09 units, the facility operates near its capacity. As a small plant, it is subject to state-level NPDES permits administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The treated effluent is discharged into the waters near Hartstene Island, which ultimately flow into Puget Sound. Puget Sound is a major estuarine system that supports diverse marine life, including salmon, orcas, and shellfish. The plant's coastal location means its discharge must meet stringent water quality standards to protect the sensitive marine ecosystem.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the waters surrounding Hartstene Island, which are part of the Puget Sound basin. Puget Sound is a large estuarine system connected to the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sound supports critical habitats for salmon, forage fish, and marine mammals. As a coastal facility, the plant must ensure its secondary-treated effluent does not contribute to nutrient loading or pathogen contamination that could harm shellfish beds or recreational waters.
Frequently asked questions
Hartstene Pointe STP is located on Hartstene Island in Mason County, Washington, United States. The facility serves the Hartstene Pointe community near the coast of Puget Sound.
The plant serves a population of 860 residents, making it a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the waters near Hartstene Island, which flow into Puget Sound. The discharge is regulated under the U.S. Clean Water Act via an NPDES permit.
The plant protects the water quality of Puget Sound, a major estuarine system. While no specific river is named, the discharge area supports local marine habitats and shellfish beds.
As a U.S. facility, Hartstene Pointe STP operates under the Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal plants. It is likely permitted by the Washington State Department of Ecology under the NPDES program, ensuring compliance with water quality standards for coastal discharges.
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