Ney WWTP and Sewers - Secondary Treatment Plant in Ney, Ohio

Ney WWTP and Sewers is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ney, Defiance County, Ohio. The plant serves a small population of 364 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. As a secondary treatment plant, Ney WWTP removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. The facility has a designed capacity of 155.20 volume units, with a discharge volume matching that figure, indicating full utilization. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Maumee River or the St. Joseph River, which ultimately drains into Lake Erie. This watershed is part of the Great Lakes Basin, an ecologically sensitive region that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this important freshwater ecosystem.

The treated effluent from Ney WWTP flows into a local stream or river within the Maumee River watershed, which drains into the western basin of Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a diverse fishery and serving as a critical migratory corridor for birds. The watershed is predominantly agricultural, and nutrient loading from wastewater and runoff can contribute to harmful algal blooms in the lake. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and helps mitigate eutrophication risks.