Saxon Sanitary District WWTP - Town of Saxon, Wisconsin Wastewater Treatment

Saxon Sanitary District WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Cemetery Road in the Town of Saxon, Iron County, Wisconsin. Serving a small population of 135 residents, the plant provides secondary treatment for the local community. Its designed capacity is 53.00 thousand gallons per day, with an average discharge volume of 45.43 thousand gallons per day. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the minimum requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, governs its discharge. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is standard to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately flows into Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is a critical freshwater resource with sensitive aquatic ecosystems. The plant's proximity to the lake (within 10 km) underscores the importance of effective treatment to prevent nutrient loading and protect water quality.

The plant's discharge enters a local watercourse that drains into Lake Superior, part of the Great Lakes system. Lake Superior supports diverse aquatic life, including lake trout, whitefish, and various benthic organisms. The watershed is forested and sparsely populated, making it sensitive to nutrient inputs. Effective secondary treatment helps minimize eutrophication risks and maintains the lake's oligotrophic status.