Pateros S_T Facility - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Pateros, Washington

Pateros S_T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Lake Shore Drive in Pateros, Okanogan County, Washington. The plant serves a small population of 630 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the minimum required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal discharges. The plant has a designed capacity of 340.69 volume units and currently treats an average daily flow of 170.34 volume units, indicating it operates at about half its capacity. As a secondary treatment facility, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the Columbia River basin, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Columbia River, a major waterway that supports salmon runs, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation in the Pacific Northwest.

The plant discharges into the Columbia River basin, which drains into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River is a vital ecosystem supporting salmon and steelhead migrations, as well as diverse aquatic life. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in the river and estuary.