Peshastin POTW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Peshastin, Washington

Peshastin POTW is a publicly owned treatment works located in Peshastin, Chelan County, Washington. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,016 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater facilities. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 692.73 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 234.70 cubic meters, indicating ample capacity for current demand. The facility is permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology, which sets effluent limits to protect receiving water quality. The treated effluent is discharged to a receiving water body within the Wenatchee River watershed, which flows into the Columbia River. The Columbia River is a major Pacific Northwest waterway that supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems and recreational uses of the river.

Peshastin POTW discharges into a tributary of the Wenatchee River, which flows into the Columbia River. The Columbia River basin supports critical salmon and steelhead habitats, and the plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality standards for these sensitive species. The surrounding area is characterized by mountainous terrain and agricultural land, making nutrient and pathogen control important for downstream ecological health.