ONEKAMA STP - Bear Lake, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

ONEKAMA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bear Lake, Manistee County, Michigan, United States. The plant serves a population of 647 and operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is standard for small communities in the region. As a secondary treatment plant, ONEKAMA STP uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 757.08 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 492.10 m³/day, indicating it operates below its design capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. The plant plays a key role in protecting the sensitive Great Lakes ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting regional water quality and aquatic habitat.

The plant discharges into a tributary of Lake Michigan, a major freshwater resource that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The watershed is part of the Lake Michigan basin, which is ecologically sensitive due to invasive species and nutrient loading. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce biological oxygen demand and suspended solids, mitigating impacts on downstream ecosystems.