Newell WWTF - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Newell, California

Newell WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Newell, Modoc County, California. It serves a small population of 336 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The plant is situated in a rural, inland area of northeastern California, near the Oregon border. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 189.27 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, the facility operates below its capacity. As a small plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Klamath River basin, ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting aquatic life in the surrounding watershed, which includes sensitive habitats for fish and wildlife.

Newell WWTF discharges into the Klamath River basin, a major watershed in the Pacific Northwest. The Klamath River flows through Oregon and California before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. This basin supports diverse aquatic species, including salmon and trout, and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic matter and pathogens, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.