Overview
RICHLAND STP is a secondary treatment plant in Baker County, Oregon, serving a small population of 250. It discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, supporting downstream water quality.
RICHLAND STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Baker County, Oregon, serving a small community of approximately 250 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations in the United States. Its designed capacity is 136.27 volume units, with a discharge volume of 136.28, indicating near-full utilization. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, secondary treatment is the minimum requirement for municipal wastewater plants, ensuring removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids. The plant operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Snake River basin, which ultimately flows into the Columbia River and then the Pacific Ocean. This inland location reduces direct marine impact, but the plant plays a key role in maintaining the health of the regional watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Snake River, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually the Pacific Ocean. The Snake River basin supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
RICHLAND STP is located in Baker County, Oregon, United States, serving the local community of Richland.
RICHLAND STP serves a small population of approximately 250 residents.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body within the Snake River basin, which flows into the Columbia River and then the Pacific Ocean.
RICHLAND STP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with an NPDES permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, setting effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small populations like 250, secondary treatment is typical, as mandated by the Clean Water Act. This level removes biodegradable organics and suspended solids, protecting local water quality.
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