Occidental WWTF - Santa Rosa, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

Occidental WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. Serving a population of approximately 2,543, it is classified as a small-scale plant within the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and plays a role in managing local wastewater for the community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 757.08 volume units and a discharge volume of 681.37, indicating it operates near its capacity. Permits are issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Russian River watershed and then to the Pacific Ocean. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a broader ecosystem that includes salmonid habitats. The plant's operations are subject to state and federal regulations to protect water quality in the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Russian River, which flows through Sonoma County before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Russian River watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including steelhead trout and coho salmon, and is an important ecological corridor. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.