Pomfret T Lily Dale STP and Onsites - Lily Dale, New York Wastewater Treatment Plant

Pomfret T Lily Dale STP and Onsites is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lily Dale, a hamlet within the Town of Pomfret, Chautauqua County, New York. The plant serves a small population of 200 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. As a small-scale facility, it is subject to state-level National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 189.27 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 60.57 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves aeration and clarification steps to meet effluent quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into Lake Erie via nearby creeks and the Niagara River. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource supporting diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and perch, and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's location within 50 kilometers of the coast but not within 10 kilometers means it has a moderate influence on the lake's water quality, with secondary treatment helping to reduce nutrient loads that could contribute to algal blooms.

The plant discharges into the Lake Erie basin, part of the Great Lakes system. The receiving waters ultimately flow through the Niagara River into Lake Ontario and then the St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Erie is ecologically sensitive, experiencing seasonal algal blooms driven by nutrient pollution. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate phosphorus and nitrogen loads, supporting the lake's health and recreational uses.