Overview
McCleary STP is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 1,981 residents in McCleary, Washington. It discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, supporting downstream water quality in Grays Harbor County.
McCleary STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 118 South 9th Street in McCleary, Washington, within Grays Harbor County. The plant serves a population of about 1,981 people, reflecting its role as a small-scale treatment system for this rural community in the Pacific Northwest. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, ensuring a high level of pollutant removal before discharge. With a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and an average daily flow of 492.10 cubic meters, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a US-based plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from McCleary STP is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Chehalis River basin and then to Grays Harbor, an estuary on the Pacific coast. This discharge supports the ecological health of the watershed, which provides habitat for salmon and other aquatic species. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the overall water quality of the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Chehalis River, which flows into Grays Harbor, a large estuary on the Washington coast. This estuary supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs and migratory birds. The advanced treatment at McCleary STP helps protect this sensitive ecosystem from nutrient enrichment and contaminants, maintaining the ecological balance of the downstream environment.
Frequently asked questions
McCleary STP is located at 118 South 9th Street in McCleary, Washington, within Grays Harbor County.
The plant serves approximately 1,981 residents of McCleary and the surrounding area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that flows into the Chehalis River basin and eventually into Grays Harbor estuary on the Pacific coast.
McCleary STP provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent.
As a US municipal wastewater plant, McCleary STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
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