Port Henry V STP, Port Henry

Overview

Port Henry V STP serves 3,132 residents in Port Henry, New York. The plant is located near Lake Champlain and operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations.

Port Henry V STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the community of Port Henry in Essex County, New York. The plant is situated near Bulwagga Bay on Lake Champlain, providing essential sanitation services to approximately 3,132 residents. As a small-scale facility, it plays a key role in protecting local water quality. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this size are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. These permits set effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other parameters. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches Lake Champlain, a large freshwater lake that drains northward via the Richelieu River into the St. Lawrence River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Champlain is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a recreational and drinking water resource for the region.

Environmental context

Port Henry V STP discharges into Bulwagga Bay, an embayment of Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain drains north via the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Ocean. The lake is a critical freshwater ecosystem supporting fish species like lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon, and it provides drinking water for nearby communities. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast (Lake Champlain's shoreline) means its effluent quality directly affects the lake's trophic state and recreational uses.

Frequently asked questions

Port Henry V STP is located at Bulwagga Bay Campground on Bulwagga Drive in Port Henry, Essex County, New York, United States.

The plant serves approximately 3,132 residents in the Port Henry area.

The plant discharges treated effluent into Bulwagga Bay, which flows into Lake Champlain. The discharge is regulated under the U.S. Clean Water Act via an NPDES permit issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The plant protects the water quality of Bulwagga Bay and Lake Champlain, which drains via the Richelieu River to the St. Lawrence River and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean.

For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act. This typically involves biological treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.