Overview
Missoula WWTP serves approximately 43,290 people in Missoula, Montana. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Clark Fork River, which flows through the region and ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean.
Missoula WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Missoula, Montana, serving a population of about 43,290 residents. Situated in the heart of the city, the plant plays a key role in managing wastewater from residential and commercial sources in this growing urban area in the Rocky Mountain region. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard for municipal wastewater facilities. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, governs the plant's discharge limits and monitoring requirements to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Clark Fork River, a major tributary of the Pend Oreille River, which flows through Idaho and Washington before reaching the Columbia River and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. The Clark Fork River supports diverse aquatic life, including trout species, and is an important resource for recreation and irrigation in western Montana.
Environmental context
The Clark Fork River is the primary receiving water body for Missoula WWTP's discharge. This river flows through Missoula and joins the Bitterroot River before continuing into Idaho, where it becomes part of the Pend Oreille River system. The watershed supports a variety of fish species, including westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout, and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading and temperature changes. Downstream, the river contributes to the Columbia River basin, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean.
Frequently asked questions
Missoula WWTP is located at 218 West Pine Street in Missoula, Montana, United States.
The plant serves approximately 43,290 people in the Missoula urban area.
Treated wastewater from Missoula WWTP is discharged into the Clark Fork River, which flows through Missoula and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River system.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with discharge regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this size are required to provide at least secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
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