Lorain Philip Q Maiorana WWTP - Lorain, Ohio Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Lorain Philip Q Maiorana Wastewater Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in Lorain, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie. It serves a population of approximately 14,000 residents in the city and surrounding areas. The plant is situated near West Erie Avenue, close to the Lake Erie shoreline. As a US facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program established by the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a medium-scale treatment operation typical for a city of Lorain's size. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Black River, which flows into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Erie supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in protecting this vital freshwater resource from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the Black River, which flows into Lake Erie, the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie's western basin is particularly sensitive to nutrient loading, which can cause harmful algal blooms. The plant's operations help maintain water quality for downstream ecosystems and recreational uses.