Phelps V STP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Village of Phelps, New York

Phelps V STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Village of Phelps, Ontario County, New York. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,944 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. As a small agglomeration, the plant's design capacity is 1,150.76 thousand cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 651.09 thousand cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for facilities of this size in the United States. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA effluent guidelines. The plant's operations are overseen by state and federal permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from Phelps V STP is discharged into local streams that flow into the Canandaigua Lake outlet and eventually into the Seneca River, part of the Lake Ontario watershed. Lake Ontario is a major freshwater resource and supports diverse aquatic life, including recreational and commercial fisheries. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality management in the region, protecting downstream ecosystems and public water supplies.

The plant's discharge enters local tributaries that drain into Canandaigua Lake, a Finger Lake, and then via the Seneca River to Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario is a critical freshwater ecosystem supporting diverse fish species and migratory birds. The region's watershed is sensitive to nutrient loading, and secondary treatment helps reduce the risk of eutrophication in downstream waters.