Port Orford STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Port Orford, Oregon

Port Orford STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Port Orford, Curry County, Oregon, on the southern coast of the state. The plant serves a small population of 1,135 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,040.99 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 147.63 million gallons, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into the Pacific Ocean, as the plant lies within 10 km of the coast. This coastal discharge is subject to stringent state and federal permits to protect marine water quality and the diverse aquatic life along Oregon's shoreline, including salmon and other sensitive species.

The plant discharges into the Pacific Ocean near Port Orford, a coastal community in southern Oregon. The local watershed drains directly to the ocean, supporting a productive marine ecosystem that includes rocky intertidal habitats, kelp forests, and important fisheries for salmon and Dungeness crab. The discharge point is within an area of high ecological sensitivity, where nutrient and pollutant inputs must be carefully managed to prevent eutrophication and protect water quality for recreational and commercial uses.