Pittsfield Main Plant, Pittsfield

Overview

Pittsfield Main Plant serves approximately 4,576 residents in Pittsfield, Illinois. The facility operates under US EPA NPDES permitting as part of the state's wastewater management infrastructure.

Pittsfield Main Plant is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 908 North Jackson Street in Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois. The plant serves a population of about 4,576 people, classifying it as a small to medium-sized facility within the state's wastewater network. Under the US Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in receiving streams. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways that drain into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This connection underscores the facility's role in regional water quality management and downstream ecosystem health.

Environmental context

The plant's discharge enters tributaries of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger system affected by nutrient loading. The facility's treatment performance is critical to maintaining local stream health and contributing to downstream water quality goals.

Frequently asked questions

Pittsfield Main Plant is located at 908 North Jackson Street in Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, United States.

The plant serves approximately 4,576 residents in the Pittsfield area.

The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that are part of the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, requiring compliance with secondary treatment standards.

For small to medium-sized plants in the US, secondary treatment is standard, often involving biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters, with NPDES permits setting effluent limits.