SMELTERVILLE S_T FACILITY Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shoshone County, Idaho

The SMELTERVILLE S_T FACILITY is a wastewater treatment plant located in Shoshone County, Idaho, United States. It serves a small population of 627 residents in the rural community of Smelterville, situated along the Coeur d'Alene River corridor. The plant is part of the region's municipal infrastructure, managing wastewater from residential sources in this mountainous area of northern Idaho. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant's designed capacity of 946.35 thousand cubic meters per year indicates it is sized to accommodate the local population, with an actual discharge volume of 264.98 thousand cubic meters per year. The plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Coeur d'Alene River, which flows into Lake Coeur d'Alene and eventually the Spokane River, contributing to the Columbia River basin. This watershed is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational activities. The plant's location inland, away from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge into a river system requires careful management to protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Coeur d'Alene River, a major tributary of Lake Coeur d'Alene, which flows into the Spokane River and ultimately the Columbia River. This watershed is part of the larger Columbia Basin, supporting diverse fish species including salmon and trout. The region's mining history has left legacy metal contamination, making careful wastewater management critical to prevent additional pollutant loading and protect downstream ecosystems.