North Shore SD Gurnee STP - Lake County, Illinois Wastewater Treatment Plant

North Shore SD Gurnee STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Lake County, Illinois, serving a population of approximately 105,208. The facility is situated near the western shore of Lake Michigan, within the greater Chicago metropolitan area, and plays a critical role in managing wastewater for this suburban community. As a large agglomeration serving over 100,000 people, the plant is subject to stringent U. S. Clean Water Act requirements, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary or advanced treatment to meet regulatory standards for effluent quality. The plant's treated effluent ultimately discharges into the Lake Michigan watershed, which drains into the Great Lakes system. Lake Michigan is a vital freshwater resource supporting drinking water, recreation, and diverse aquatic ecosystems. The facility's operations are essential for protecting water quality in this sensitive Great Lakes environment.

The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan basin, part of the Great Lakes system, which is the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. Lake Michigan supports a diverse aquatic ecosystem, including native fish species and migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this watershed is critical due to its role as a drinking water source and its ecological sensitivity to nutrient pollution and contaminants.