KLICKITAT STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Murdock, Washington

KLICKITAT STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Murdock, Washington, within Klickitat County. The facility serves a small population of 525 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. As a plant in the United States, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with discharge permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The plant has a designed capacity of 757.08 cubic meters per day, with a similar discharge volume, indicating it operates near its design capacity. Secondary treatment is the standard for plants of this scale, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent from KLICKITAT STP ultimately flows into the Columbia River, a major waterway that drains into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs, and the plant's treatment helps protect this important ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the Columbia River basin, which flows through the Pacific Northwest to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River is a critical habitat for anadromous fish species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout. The secondary treatment process reduces biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in this ecologically significant river system.