Overview
Hughson WWTF serves approximately 12,000 people in Stanislaus County, California. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways within the San Joaquin River basin.
Hughson WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Stanislaus County, California, serving a population of about 12,000. The plant is situated in California's Central Valley, an agricultural region with significant water quality concerns. As a facility serving a medium-sized community, Hughson WWTF operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. California's State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board oversee permitting and compliance, ensuring that treatment meets standards for protecting beneficial uses of receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the San Joaquin River system, which flows northward through the Central Valley to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports critical aquatic habitats, including migratory fish species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, and provides water for irrigation and municipal use.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the San Joaquin River basin, a major tributary of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. The region faces challenges from agricultural runoff and urban development, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Hughson WWTF is located on Leedom Road in Stanislaus County, California, serving the community of Hughson and surrounding areas.
The plant serves approximately 12,000 people, classifying it as a medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the San Joaquin River basin, which ultimately flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board or the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
For a medium-sized community in California, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies like the San Joaquin River.
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