LELAND TWP WWSL - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Leland Township, Michigan

LELAND TWP WWSL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Leland Township, Leelanau County, Michigan, United States. The plant serves a small population of 593 residents in this Great Lakes coastal community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, the minimum standard for municipal wastewater treatment under the Clean Water Act. Its designed capacity is 302.83 million gallons per year, and it currently discharges 227.13 million gallons annually, indicating it operates below capacity. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level oversight by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The treated effluent is discharged into the Lake Michigan watershed, likely via a local stream or direct outfall. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes, which hold 21% of the world's surface freshwater and support diverse aquatic ecosystems. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can directly affect nearshore water quality and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan basin, part of the Great Lakes system that ultimately drains to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. Lake Michigan supports a complex food web including lake trout, whitefish, and invasive species like zebra mussels. The nearshore zone is ecologically sensitive, providing spawning habitat for fish and supporting migratory birds. Protecting water quality is critical for drinking water supplies, tourism, and fisheries in the region.