Skaneateles V WWTP - Village of Skaneateles, New York Wastewater Treatment

Skaneateles V WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Village of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York. The plant serves a population of about 5,116 people, typical of a small community in the Finger Lakes region. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which sets effluent limits for discharges to surface waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is sized for the small population it serves. US plants of this scale commonly employ secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet federal and state standards. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which requires regular monitoring and reporting. Skaneateles V WWTP discharges treated effluent to a receiving water body that ultimately flows into Skaneateles Lake, one of the Finger Lakes known for its clean water and recreational value. The lake supports diverse aquatic life and is a source of drinking water for surrounding communities. Protecting this water body from nutrient pollution is critical to maintaining its ecological health and water quality.

The plant discharges into a tributary of Skaneateles Lake, a deep, oligotrophic Finger Lake in central New York. The lake drains northward via the Seneca River, which connects to the Oswego River and eventually Lake Ontario. Skaneateles Lake is known for its high water clarity and supports coldwater fish species such as lake trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon. Nutrient loading from wastewater can promote algal blooms, so effective treatment is essential to preserve the lake's ecological balance and drinking water quality.