Joint School Dist 171 Timberline HS LSAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pierce, Idaho

Joint School Dist 171 Timberline HS LSAS is a wastewater treatment facility located in Pierce, Idaho, within Clearwater County. The plant serves a small population of 230 people and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for smaller communities in the United States. The plant has a designed capacity of 56.78 million gallons per day and currently discharges 11.36 million gallons per day. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the minimum requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Clearwater River and then the Snake River, a major tributary of the Columbia River. The plant plays a role in protecting the aquatic ecosystems of these rivers, which support diverse fish populations including salmon and steelhead.

The plant discharges into the Clearwater River basin, which flows into the Snake River and then the Columbia River, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Clearwater River is known for its pristine waters and supports important fisheries, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting the ecological health of these downstream waters.