North Shore WWRF - Coachella, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

North Shore WWRF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Coachella, Riverside County, California. The plant serves a small population of 290 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum for municipal discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 124.92 million gallons per year and an annual discharge volume of 68.14 million gallons, the facility operates below its capacity. As a US plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Salton Sea, a large saline lake in Southern California. The Salton Sea is an ecologically sensitive area that supports migratory birds and aquatic life, making proper wastewater treatment crucial for protecting water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into the Salton Sea watershed, a terminal lake in the Colorado Desert. The Salton Sea is a critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and fish, but faces challenges from salinity and nutrient loading. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce pollutant loads to this sensitive ecosystem.