Lake Co Heatherstone WWTP, Mentor

Overview

Lake Co Heatherstone WWTP serves 3,200 people in Mentor, Ohio, discharging treated wastewater into Lake Erie. The plant operates under US EPA NPDES regulations.

Lake Co Heatherstone WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Mentor, Ohio, along Lake Shore Boulevard near Mentor Harbor. It serves a population of approximately 3,200 residents in the Lake County area. The plant is situated within 50 kilometers of the Lake Erie coastline, making it part of the Great Lakes watershed. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a small-scale facility. The treated effluent from the plant discharges into Lake Erie via local drainage, contributing to the lake's water quality management. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource supporting drinking water, recreation, and diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and perch. The plant's operations are critical for protecting the lake from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into Lake Erie, the fourth-largest of the Great Lakes, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Niagara River and St. Lawrence Seaway. Lake Erie is ecologically sensitive due to its shallow depth and susceptibility to algal blooms from nutrient loading. The Mentor Harbor area supports wetlands and fish spawning habitats, making proper wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.

Frequently asked questions

Lake Co Heatherstone WWTP is located on Lake Shore Boulevard in Mentor Harbor, Mentor, Lake County, Ohio, United States.

The plant serves approximately 3,200 residents in the Mentor area.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into Lake Erie, a major Great Lake that provides drinking water and supports diverse aquatic life.

As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Ohio EPA, which sets limits on pollutants to protect Lake Erie.

For small plants serving around 3,200 people, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, which removes organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.