Onondaga CoMeadowbrookLimestonSTP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Town of Manlius, New York

Onondaga CoMeadowbrookLimestonSTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Town of Manlius, Onondaga County, New York. It serves a population of around 36,469 residents, placing it in the medium agglomeration category. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River system. As a US facility, the plant is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under an EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, and the permit sets limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters. It is expected to meet federal and state standards for biological oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that flows into the Oneida River, then the Oswego River, and eventually Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is a vital freshwater resource and part of the Great Lakes system, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The plant's operations are important for maintaining water quality in this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Oneida River, which flows into the Oswego River and then into Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is the easternmost Great Lake and a critical freshwater ecosystem supporting fish populations such as lake trout and salmon, as well as migratory birds. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its role in the Great Lakes basin, and nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms. The plant's compliance with NPDES permits helps protect this downstream environment.