Overview
HILMAR WTP is a secondary treatment plant in Hilmar, California, serving about 5,000 people. It discharges 908.50 megaliters of treated wastewater annually, with a designed capacity of 1,135.62 megaliters.
HILMAR WTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Hilmar, Merced County, California. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 megaliters per year and an actual discharge volume of 908.50 megaliters, the facility operates below its full capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the San Joaquin River system, ultimately reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is critical for regional water supply and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the San Joaquin River basin, which flows through California's Central Valley before reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay. This estuarine environment supports a variety of fish and bird species, including salmon and migratory waterfowl. The region's Mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters influences seasonal flow patterns and water quality management.
Frequently asked questions
HILMAR WTP is located at 7633 Columbus Avenue, Hilmar, Merced County, California, United States.
The plant serves approximately 5,000 residents in the Hilmar area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the San Joaquin River system, eventually reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay.
HILMAR WTP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment plants.
As a US municipal wastewater plant, HILMAR WTP operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board or the US EPA.
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