South Bend STP CS, Pacific County

Overview

South Bend STP CS is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,635 people in Pacific County, Washington. It discharges 632.16 million gallons per year, operating under the US Clean Water Act framework.

South Bend STP CS is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The facility serves a small community of approximately 1,635 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet federal and state water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 632.16 million gallons per year and currently discharges a similar volume. As a secondary treatment facility, it utilizes biological processes to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. Under the US Clean Water Act, such plants must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River estuary. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic habitats, including salmon runs and estuarine ecosystems that are vital to the region's ecology and economy.

Environmental context

The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the Columbia River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The lower Columbia River and its estuary support critical salmon and steelhead populations, as well as migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this watershed is essential for maintaining the health of these species and the broader marine environment.

Frequently asked questions

South Bend STP CS is located in Pacific County, Washington, United States, near the town of South Bend.

The plant serves approximately 1,635 residents in the Pacific County area.

The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway that flows into the Columbia River, which ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean.

The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Small US plants serving populations under 10,000 typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, as required by the Clean Water Act.