North Houghton Co WandSA CSO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calumet Township, Michigan

North Houghton Co WandSA CSO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Calumet Township, Houghton County, Michigan, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,677 people, reflecting a small community in the Upper Peninsula region. Its location near Lake Superior places it within a sensitive Great Lakes watershed. The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a facility sized for a small agglomeration. As a US plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). These permits regulate discharge quality to protect receiving waters. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes and a critical freshwater resource. The surrounding watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. Effective treatment is essential to prevent nutrient loading and contamination in this ecologically sensitive lake.

The plant discharges into the Lake Superior basin, the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world. Lake Superior supports a cold-water ecosystem with species such as lake trout and whitefish. The watershed includes forested areas and tributaries that drain into the lake, requiring careful management to avoid algal blooms and maintain water quality for downstream communities and wildlife.