Overview
Helmer Sewage Treatment System serves 32 people in Helmer, Idaho, with secondary treatment. The plant discharges 15.14 megaliters annually and has a designed capacity of 53.00 megaliters.
Helmer Sewage Treatment System is a municipal wastewater facility located in Helmer, Latah County, Idaho, United States. It serves a small population of 32 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is part of the local infrastructure managed under state and federal regulations. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal plants. It has a designed capacity of 53.00 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 15.14 megaliters. As a small plant, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Palouse River basin, contributing to the Columbia River watershed. This region supports agricultural activities and diverse aquatic habitats, making effective treatment important for downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local water body within the Palouse River basin, which flows into the Snake River and eventually the Columbia River. This watershed supports agricultural irrigation and provides habitat for fish species such as steelhead and salmon. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
Helmer Sewage Treatment System is located in Helmer, Latah County, Idaho, United States.
The plant serves a small population of 32 residents in the rural community of Helmer, Idaho.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local water body that flows into the Palouse River basin, part of the larger Columbia River watershed.
The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater plants to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
As a small municipal plant, it operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality in receiving waters.
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