Overview
LITCHFIELD STP is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Litchfield, Michigan, serving approximately 1,400 people. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the St. Joseph River watershed.
LITCHFIELD STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Litchfield, Hillsdale County, Michigan. The plant serves a small community of about 1,400 residents, providing essential sanitation services to this rural area in the southern part of the state. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 454.25 cubic meters per day and an average daily flow of 378.54 cubic meters, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent from LITCHFIELD STP is discharged into local streams that flow into the St. Joseph River, which ultimately drains into Lake Michigan. This places the plant within the Great Lakes Basin, a region of significant ecological importance. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats in this sensitive watershed.
Environmental context
LITCHFIELD STP discharges into tributaries of the St. Joseph River, which flows into Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes system. The St. Joseph River supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and smallmouth bass. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting the river's ecological health and the recreational value of Lake Michigan.
Frequently asked questions
LITCHFIELD STP is located on Herring Road in Litchfield, Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States.
The plant serves approximately 1,400 residents in the Litchfield area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that flow into the St. Joseph River, which ultimately drains into Lake Michigan.
LITCHFIELD STP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities.
As a municipal plant in the United States, LITCHFIELD STP operates under the Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment and requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
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