PRINCETON HAMPTON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hampton, Idaho

PRINCETON HAMPTON is a wastewater treatment plant located on State Highway 6 in Hampton, Latah County, Idaho, United States. The facility serves a small population of 188 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all wastewater discharges. For small plants like this, secondary treatment is the standard, ensuring compliance with federal effluent guidelines. The plant's current discharge volume of 75.71 m³/day is well within its designed capacity of 113.56 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Palouse River, which flows into the Snake River and eventually the Columbia River. This watershed supports agricultural and aquatic ecosystems, and the plant's treatment helps protect water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into a small stream within the Palouse River basin, which drains into the Snake River and then the Columbia River before reaching the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including salmonid species, and is important for regional agriculture. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient and organic loads, helping to maintain downstream water quality.