Overview
Joliet Eastside STP serves approximately 90,628 people in Joliet, Illinois. The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits regulating its discharge to protect local waterways.
Joliet Eastside STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on McKinley Street in Joliet, Illinois, within Will County. Serving a population of around 90,628, the plant is a key component of the city's wastewater infrastructure, handling residential and commercial flows from the eastern side of Joliet. As a medium-to-large agglomeration, the plant is subject to the U. S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard for municipal wastewater. The facility's discharge is regulated through a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Des Plaines River watershed, which flows southward to join the Illinois River and ultimately the Mississippi River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities, making effective treatment critical for regional water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Des Plaines River, a tributary of the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds and freshwater mussels. Downstream, the Illinois River is a major ecological corridor, and nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Effective treatment helps mitigate these impacts.
Frequently asked questions
Joliet Eastside STP is located on McKinley Street in Joliet, Illinois, United States, within Will County.
The plant serves approximately 90,628 people, making it a medium-to-large agglomeration under U. S. regulatory classifications.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Des Plaines River, which flows into the Illinois River and eventually the Mississippi River.
The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this size are required to provide at least secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
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