LUDINGTON STP - Pere Marquette Charter Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

LUDINGTON STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving Pere Marquette Charter Township in Mason County, Michigan. The plant handles wastewater from a population of about 8,643 people, with a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges to surface waters. As a facility serving a community of this size, it is classified as a small to medium agglomeration. The plant's location near Lake Michigan places it within a sensitive coastal zone, where nutrient removal may be important to protect water quality. The treated effluent from LUDINGTON STP ultimately discharges into the Lake Michigan watershed, which is part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Michigan supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish species and migratory birds, and provides drinking water for millions of people. The plant's operation is critical to maintaining the ecological health of this major freshwater resource.

The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan basin, which drains into the Great Lakes system and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. Lake Michigan is a large freshwater lake that supports a diverse ecosystem, including lake trout, whitefish, and migratory birds. The watershed is also a source of drinking water and recreation. Protecting water quality is essential to prevent eutrophication and maintain habitat for sensitive species.