Madera STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Madera, California

Madera STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Madera, California, serving a population of about 66,113. The plant is situated inland in the San Joaquin Valley, an agricultural region with significant water management challenges. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Madera STP operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a baseline for municipal wastewater plants. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board or the Regional Water Quality Control Board, govern discharge limits to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the San Joaquin River. This river flows through the Central Valley and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a critical ecological and water supply hub. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.

Madera STP discharges into the San Joaquin River basin, a major tributary of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The delta is a vital estuary supporting diverse aquatic life, including salmon and migratory birds. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in a region facing challenges from agricultural runoff and seasonal droughts.