Overview
Placer County WWTF 3 is a secondary treatment plant in Cottonwood, California, serving approximately 1,000 people. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the region's water quality management.
Placer County WWTF 3 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cottonwood, within Placer County, California. The plant serves a small community of about 1,000 residents, providing essential sanitation services for the area. The facility operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal plants. With a designed capacity of 567.81 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 264.98 cubic meters per day, the plant is operating well within its capacity, ensuring reliable treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Sacramento River system and ultimately the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Sacramento River, which flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead trout, and is an important ecological corridor. The secondary treatment process helps reduce pollutants before discharge, safeguarding the downstream environment.
Frequently asked questions
Placer County WWTF 3 is located in Cottonwood, Placer County, California, United States.
The plant serves approximately 1,000 residents in the Cottonwood area of Placer County.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local tributaries that flow into the Sacramento River system, eventually reaching the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Nearby plants