Richmond WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Richmond Township, Michigan

Richmond WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Richmond Township, Marquette County, Michigan. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,897 residents and has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is a small-scale facility serving a rural community. As a U.S. plant, Richmond WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting. For facilities of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, and permits are issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). It is expected to meet federal and state effluent guidelines. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local water body, likely a tributary of Lake Superior, given its location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The receiving waters ultimately drain into Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's operations are critical for protecting downstream water quality and the ecological health of the Lake Superior basin.

Richmond WWTP discharges into a local water body that flows into Lake Superior via the Lake Superior basin. Lake Superior is a vast freshwater ecosystem supporting cold-water fish species such as lake trout and whitefish, as well as migratory birds. The plant's location in a rural, forested area means that treated effluent must meet strict standards to prevent nutrient loading and protect the lake's oligotrophic conditions.