KENT CITY STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Tyrone Township, Michigan

KENT CITY STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Tyrone Township, Kent County, Michigan. The facility serves a small population of 871 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 643.52 thousand cubic meters per year and treats an average annual flow of 605.67 thousand cubic meters, indicating it operates near its design capacity. As a small facility in Michigan, it is subject to state-level NPDES permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Grand River watershed, which ultimately flows into Lake Michigan. This makes the plant's performance important for protecting the water quality of the Great Lakes ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Grand River, which flows westward through Michigan and empties into Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is part of the Great Lakes system, the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is a critical resource for regional water supply, recreation, and commerce. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient loading and protect the lake's ecological health.