Portage Co Red Fox WWTP - Advanced Treatment Facility in Freedom Dam, Ohio

Portage Co Red Fox WWTP is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Freedom Dam, Portage County, Ohio. Serving a population of 620, the plant is part of the municipal infrastructure for the surrounding community. The plant has a designed capacity of 605.66 volume units and currently discharges 174.13 volume units of treated effluent. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities operate under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into a local waterway that flows into the Cuyahoga River or a tributary, eventually reaching Lake Erie. Lake Erie is a vital freshwater resource that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this sensitive ecosystem from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into a local stream that is part of the Cuyahoga River watershed, which drains into Lake Erie. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a rich fishery and providing drinking water to over 11 million people. The watershed is ecologically sensitive, with concerns about harmful algal blooms driven by nutrient runoff, making advanced treatment crucial for protecting water quality.