Overview
Leipsic WWTP and Sewer System serves the village of Leipsic, Ohio, treating wastewater from a population of approximately 2,378. The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Maumee River basin, ultimately reaching Lake Erie.
Leipsic WWTP and Sewer System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Leipsic, Ohio, a small village in Putnam County. The plant serves a population of about 2,378 residents, providing essential sanitation services to the community. As a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), it operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). Plants of this scale in Ohio typically employ secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. For a population of this size, the plant is likely sized to handle average daily flows of several hundred thousand gallons per day. Compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements ensures that effluent meets state and federal water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged to a local stream or ditch that flows into the Blanchard River, a tributary of the Maumee River. The Maumee River drains into Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio, forming part of the Great Lakes Basin. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The discharge contributes nutrients that can affect Lake Erie's water quality, particularly concerning harmful algal blooms, making nutrient management a key operational focus.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Blanchard River watershed, which flows into the Maumee River and ultimately Lake Erie. This region is part of the Great Lakes Basin, a globally significant freshwater ecosystem. The Maumee River is a major tributary to Lake Erie's western basin, which experiences seasonal harmful algal blooms driven by nutrient loading, particularly phosphorus. The plant's discharge, while treated, contributes to the overall nutrient budget, and regulatory programs aim to reduce phosphorus loads to protect Lake Erie's water quality and aquatic habitat.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 243 North Orchard Drive, Leipsic, Ohio, in Putnam County. It serves the village of Leipsic and surrounding areas.
The plant serves a population of approximately 2,378 residents, based on available data. This classifies it as a small municipal wastewater treatment facility.
Treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway that flows into the Blanchard River, a tributary of the Maumee River, which ultimately drains into Lake Erie.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with an NPDES permit issued by the Ohio EPA. The permit sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
Small municipal plants in Ohio typically use secondary treatment, including biological processes like activated sludge or lagoons, to meet state and federal effluent standards.
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