Little Valley V WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Little Valley, New York

Little Valley V WWTP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in the Village of Little Valley, Cattaraugus County, New York. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,130 residents, providing essential sanitation services for this rural community in western New York State. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 700.30 thousand gallons per day and a current discharge volume of 420.18 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such plants are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Allegheny River, a major tributary of the Ohio River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the ecological health of the receiving waters and the broader Mississippi River basin.

The plant discharges into a small stream that flows into the Allegheny River, which eventually joins the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed is part of the larger Mississippi River drainage basin, one of the largest in the world. The local streams support coldwater fisheries, including trout species, and are important for maintaining water quality in downstream reservoirs and recreational areas. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, which can cause algal blooms in receiving waters.