Overview
Hillsboro Westside STP serves approximately 43,370 people in Hillsboro, Oregon. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater.
Hillsboro Westside STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hillsboro, Oregon, serving a population of about 43,370. The plant is part of the region's infrastructure managed by local authorities, treating wastewater from residential and commercial sources in the growing Portland metropolitan area. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to provide secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program governs discharge limits to protect water quality. The plant likely meets federal and state standards for effluent quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Tualatin River, a tributary of the Willamette River, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Tualatin River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and irrigation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tualatin River basin, which flows into the Willamette River and then the Columbia River, ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Tualatin River is a vital waterway in northwestern Oregon, supporting salmon and steelhead runs, as well as other native fish species. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to urban and agricultural runoff, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and aquatic habitat.
Frequently asked questions
Hillsboro Westside STP is located at 707 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. It serves the western part of the city and surrounding areas.
The plant serves approximately 43,370 people, making it a medium-sized municipal treatment facility in the Portland metropolitan region.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that flow into the Tualatin River, a tributary of the Willamette River, which eventually reaches the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires an NPDES permit for discharges. The permit is issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, setting limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
Plants of this size in the U.S. typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA standards.
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