ONSTED STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Cambridge Township, Michigan

ONSTED STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Cambridge Township, Lenawee County, Michigan. The facility serves a population of 813 and provides advanced treatment, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 567.81 million gallons per year, with an actual discharge volume of 264.98 million gallons per year. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, which is important for protecting downstream water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Raisin River and then into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system. This region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Raisin River, which flows into Lake Erie, the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie faces challenges from nutrient pollution, particularly phosphorus, which fuels harmful algal blooms. Advanced treatment at ONSTD STP helps mitigate this impact by reducing nutrient loads. The watershed supports diverse fish populations and provides habitat for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway.