Ithaca C Ithaca Area STP - City of Ithaca, New York Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Ithaca C Ithaca Area STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York. It serves a population of around 48,643 residents, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category. The plant is situated near the southern end of Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. For a plant serving approximately 48,600 people, secondary treatment is the minimum standard, though many plants in sensitive watersheds like the Finger Lakes employ advanced treatment to reduce nutrient loading. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into Cayuga Lake, which drains northward via the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to the Oswego River and ultimately into Lake Ontario. Cayuga Lake supports diverse aquatic life, including coldwater fish species such as lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon. The lake is also a critical water resource for local communities and agriculture.

The plant discharges into Cayuga Lake, the longest of New York's Finger Lakes, which flows north through the Cayuga-Seneca Canal to the Oswego River and into Lake Ontario. The lake is ecologically sensitive, supporting coldwater fisheries and serving as a migratory corridor for birds. Nutrient management is a key concern to prevent algal blooms that can impact water quality and aquatic habitats.