Red Lodge City of STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Red Lodge, Montana

Red Lodge City of STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Red Lodge, Carbon County, Montana. The plant serves a population of about 2,255 people, typical of a small community in the Rocky Mountain region. As part of the town's infrastructure, it manages domestic wastewater from residential and commercial sources. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, govern discharge limits to protect water quality. For a plant of this size, standard treatment typically includes biological processes followed by disinfection. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Yellowstone River basin, a major tributary of the Missouri River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and recreation. The plant's location inland and away from coastal areas reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge still affects local stream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Yellowstone River, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed in Carbon County is characterized by mountainous terrain and cold-water streams that support trout populations. Protecting these waters is critical for maintaining aquatic biodiversity and downstream water quality.