Portage Co Bolingbrook WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Portage County, Ohio

Portage Co Bolingbrook WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Portage County, Ohio, serving a population of approximately 1,046 residents. The plant is situated near Bluestone Lake in Mantua Township and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 484.53 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 340.69 million gallons per year, the plant operates below its capacity. Advanced treatment is typical for plants discharging into sensitive watersheds or where higher water quality standards are required. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local streams that flow into the Cuyahoga River watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Erie. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and perch, and provides drinking water for millions of people. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this important ecosystem from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into local waterways that are part of the Cuyahoga River basin, which flows northward into Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a rich aquatic ecosystem and serving as a critical drinking water source. The watershed faces challenges from agricultural runoff and urban stormwater, making advanced treatment at this plant important for reducing nutrient loads and protecting downstream water quality.