Hot Springs WWTF - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hot Springs, Montana

Hot Springs Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hot Springs, Sanders County, Montana, United States. The plant serves a small population of 450 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It is situated inland, far from coastal waters, and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 897.14 units, and the current discharge volume is 170.34 units, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a small facility, it is likely subject to state-level NPDES permits administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent from Hot Springs WWTF is discharged into a local water body, which ultimately drains into the Clark Fork River basin. The Clark Fork River flows through western Montana and eventually joins the Pend Oreille River, which reaches the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. The plant's discharge contributes to the local watershed, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Clark Fork River basin, which flows through western Montana. The Clark Fork River is a major tributary of the Pend Oreille River, part of the Columbia River system that drains to the Pacific Ocean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including native trout species, and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive inland ecosystem.