Overview
HELENA WWTP serves approximately 28,190 residents in Helena, Montana. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, ultimately flowing into the Missouri River basin.
HELENA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on East Custer Avenue in Helena, Montana, serving a population of about 28,190. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant plays a key role in managing the city's wastewater within the Lewis and Clark County area. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in the receiving water body. The plant's treated effluent enters the local drainage network, which flows into the Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. This downstream connection underscores the plant's importance in maintaining water quality in the broader Missouri River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows through Montana and joins the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri River basin supports a variety of fish species, including pallid sturgeon and paddlefish, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.
Frequently asked questions
HELENA WWTP is located on East Custer Avenue in Helena, Montana, United States.
The plant serves approximately 28,190 residents in the Helena area.
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows through Montana and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
As a municipal wastewater plant in the U.S., HELENA WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, setting effluent limits to protect water quality.
Plants of this size in Montana typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting federal standards under the Clean Water Act.
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