Overview
Point Woronzof John Asplund WWTP serves Anchorage, Alaska, treating wastewater for over 205,000 people. The plant discharges into Cook Inlet, a coastal water body connected to the Gulf of Alaska.
Point Woronzof John Asplund WWTP is a major wastewater treatment facility located in Anchorage, Alaska, serving a population of over 205,000. The plant is situated near the coast of Cook Inlet, an arm of the Pacific Ocean, and plays a critical role in managing municipal wastewater for Alaska's largest city. The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges into marine waters. As a large agglomeration serving more than 100,000 people, the facility is expected to meet stringent effluent standards to protect the receiving environment. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, reflecting the scale of the infrastructure needed for this population. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into Cook Inlet, which flows into the Gulf of Alaska. This coastal ecosystem supports diverse marine life, including salmon, halibut, and marine mammals such as beluga whales. The plant's operations are essential for maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive area, which is also important for commercial fishing and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into Cook Inlet, a tidal estuary that connects to the Gulf of Alaska. This coastal environment supports a rich marine ecosystem, including salmon runs, seabird colonies, and marine mammals like the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. The inlet's waters are influenced by strong tidal currents and glacial runoff, making the area ecologically dynamic and sensitive to nutrient inputs and pollutants.
Frequently asked questions
Point Woronzof John Asplund WWTP is located on Hutson Drive in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. It serves the Anchorage metropolitan area.
The plant serves a population of over 205,000 people, making it a large municipal wastewater treatment facility for the Anchorage area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Cook Inlet, a coastal water body that flows into the Gulf of Alaska. The discharge is regulated under the U. S. Clean Water Act.
The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges into marine waters. Permits are issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.
Plants of this scale in the U. S. typically employ secondary or advanced treatment processes, such as activated sludge, to meet EPA effluent guidelines. They are also subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
Nearby plants