Shelburne FD1 WPCF - Vermont Wastewater Treatment Plant Serving Shelburne

Shelburne FD1 WPCF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Shelburne, Vermont, United States. Serving a population of approximately 4,110, the plant is designed with a capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, reflecting the scale of this small community in Chittenden County. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Plants of this size commonly employ secondary treatment to meet federal and state standards for organic and solids removal. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Lake Champlain basin, a large freshwater lake that drains northward into the Richelieu River and eventually the St. Lawrence River. Lake Champlain is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a vital resource for recreation and drinking water in the region.

The plant discharges into the Lake Champlain watershed, which flows via the Richelieu River into the St. Lawrence River and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Champlain is a large freshwater lake that supports diverse fish populations, including lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The watershed faces challenges from nutrient loading, particularly phosphorus, which can lead to algal blooms.