Loleta WWTF - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Loleta, California

Loleta WWTF (Wastewater Treatment Facility) serves the small community of Loleta in Humboldt County, California. Located near the Eel River, the plant provides secondary treatment for a population of 750, with a designed capacity of 264.98 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters. As a secondary treatment facility, Loleta WWTF meets the minimum requirements under the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant's scale places it in the small community category, where secondary treatment is standard to protect public health and the environment. The facility is situated within 10 kilometers of the Pacific coast, making its discharge subject to additional regulatory scrutiny under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean via the Eel River, a major waterway in Northern California. The Eel River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead trout, and its estuary provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The coastal discharge location requires careful management to minimize impacts on marine ecosystems.

Loleta WWTF discharges treated wastewater into the Eel River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean near Humboldt Bay. The Eel River watershed supports a variety of fish species, including threatened salmonids, and the coastal zone is ecologically sensitive. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect nearshore marine habitats, requiring compliance with state and federal water quality standards.