Overview
Paris Utility District WPC is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving 3,856 residents in Paris, Maine. It operates under the US Clean Water Act's NPDES permitting program.
Paris Utility District WPC is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Paris, Maine, serving a population of approximately 3,856. The plant is situated in Oxford County and provides wastewater treatment for the local community. As a US facility serving fewer than 10,000 people, it is classified as a small publicly owned treatment works (POTW) under the Clean Water Act. Such plants are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through EPA NPDES permits issued by the state of Maine. The plant's treatment processes are designed to comply with federal and state effluent guidelines. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Androscoggin River basin. The Androscoggin River flows into Merrymeeting Bay and then to the Gulf of Maine, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this region.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the local watershed, which is part of the Androscoggin River basin. The Androscoggin River flows through Maine and New Hampshire before reaching Merrymeeting Bay, a unique inland tidal estuary, and then the Gulf of Maine. This watershed supports important fisheries, including Atlantic salmon and brook trout, and is used for recreation. The plant's discharge must meet state water quality standards to protect these downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Paris Utility District WPC is located on Viking Trail in South Paris, Paris, Oxford County, Maine, 04281, United States.
The plant serves a population of 3,856 residents in the Paris, Maine area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which drains into the Androscoggin River basin and eventually reaches the Gulf of Maine.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Small POTWs like this must meet secondary treatment standards.
Plants of this size in Maine typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or lagoons, followed by disinfection, to meet EPA and state effluent limits.
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