ROSCOMMON WWTF - Higgins Township, Michigan Wastewater Treatment Plant

ROSCOMMON WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Higgins Township, Roscommon County, Michigan. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,135 residents, reflecting a small community in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It is situated inland, away from coastal influences, and treats wastewater from the local area. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 605.67 million gallons per year, the facility operates at about 53% capacity. Under the US Clean Water Act, such plants are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Muskegon River watershed, which flows westward into Lake Michigan. This connection to the Great Lakes system underscores the importance of advanced treatment to protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Muskegon River, which flows into Lake Michigan, part of the Great Lakes system. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including coldwater fisheries, and is an important recreational resource. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting the lake from eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.