Overview
Maxwell WWTP is a secondary treatment facility serving approximately 1,190 residents in Maxwell, California. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the Sacramento River watershed.
Maxwell WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Maxwell, California, a small community in Colusa County. The plant serves a population of about 1,190 people, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this rural area. As a secondary treatment plant, Maxwell WWTP meets the standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. The plant has a designed capacity of 529.96 volume units and currently discharges 264.98 volume units, indicating operational capacity below its design limit. Regulatory oversight is provided under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Maxwell WWTP ultimately drains into the Sacramento River basin, which flows through California's Central Valley to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is critical for regional water supply and agriculture. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically important system.
Environmental context
Maxwell WWTP discharges into local waterways that are part of the Sacramento River watershed. The Sacramento River flows south through the Central Valley, joining the San Joaquin River to form the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which empties into San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports a variety of fish species, including salmon and steelhead, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this agriculturally and ecologically significant region.
Frequently asked questions
Maxwell WWTP is located in Maxwell, California, a small town in Colusa County. The facility is situated near the Westside Freeway, serving the local community.
Maxwell WWTP serves approximately 1,190 people, reflecting its role as a small municipal wastewater treatment plant for the town of Maxwell.
Maxwell WWTP discharges treated effluent into local waterways that are part of the Sacramento River basin. The plant uses secondary treatment to reduce pollutants before discharge.
Maxwell WWTP operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires municipal wastewater treatment plants to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit standards. Secondary treatment is the minimum requirement for facilities of this scale.
In the United States, small municipal plants serving around 1,200 people typically provide secondary treatment, as mandated by the Clean Water Act. This level of treatment removes most organic matter and suspended solids, protecting local water quality.
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