REESE STP - Denmark Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

REESE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Denmark Township, Tuscola County, Michigan. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,357 residents and is situated near the eastern edge of the state, within 10 kilometers of the Lake Huron coastline. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 529.96 million gallons per year and currently treats an annual discharge volume of 340.69 million gallons. Under the US Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's secondary treatment level meets the minimum federal standard for municipal wastewater treatment. The treated effluent from REESE STP ultimately drains into the Lake Huron watershed, a vital freshwater resource that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's proximity to the Great Lakes underscores the importance of effective nutrient and pollutant removal to prevent eutrophication and protect the lake's ecological health.

REESE STP discharges into the Lake Huron basin, part of the Great Lakes system, which is the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. The receiving waters support a complex food web including lake trout, whitefish, and migratory species. The plant's coastal location within 10 km of Lake Huron means its effluent can directly influence nearshore water quality, making nutrient management critical to prevent algal blooms and maintain the lake's oligotrophic status.