Pembroke Township Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hopkins Park, Illinois

Pembroke Township wastewater treatment plant is located in Hopkins Park, Illinois, a small community in Kankakee County. The facility serves a population of 825 residents, classifying it as a small-scale municipal treatment operation under U.S. environmental regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 264.98 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Kankakee River basin, part of the larger Illinois River watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water quality, as the Illinois River flows into the Mississippi River, impacting downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Kankakee River basin, which flows into the Illinois River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife species, including migratory birds. The secondary treatment process helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically important river system.