Salem Utility District STP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin

Salem Utility District STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Salem Lakes, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Serving a population of about 14,260, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater in this suburban community near the Illinois border. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, and the designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day suggests it handles moderate flows from the local service area. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain to the Fox River and then to Lake Michigan, a major freshwater resource. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and the lake's water quality, which supports recreation, drinking water, and diverse wildlife.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Fox River, which flows into Lake Michigan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, particularly by reducing nutrient loads that could contribute to algal blooms in the lake.