Olivehurst WWTF: Wastewater Treatment in Yuba County, California

Olivehurst WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Yuba County, California, serving a population of around 14,000 residents. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide secondary treatment as a minimum standard under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. The California State Water Resources Control Board oversees compliance with discharge limits designed to protect water quality in the region. The treated wastewater from Olivehurst WWTF ultimately flows into the Feather River, a major tributary of the Sacramento River, which drains into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is critical for regional water supply and ecosystem health.

The plant discharges into the Feather River, which flows into the Sacramento River and then into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a vital estuarine ecosystem. The delta supports numerous fish species, including salmon and steelhead, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Downstream, the San Francisco Bay receives the combined flows, making water quality management crucial for the entire watershed.