South Dayton V WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Town of Dayton, New York

South Dayton V WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Dayton, Cattaraugus County, New York. The plant serves a small population of 562 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. Its designed capacity is 302.83 thousand cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 230.91 thousand cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, South Dayton V WWTP utilizes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges into surface waters. For small communities like Dayton, secondary treatment is the standard to protect downstream water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body within the Lake Erie basin, ultimately flowing into Lake Erie. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in preventing nutrient pollution and maintaining the ecological health of the region's waterways.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Lake Erie basin, which drains into Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie is a critical freshwater resource supporting fisheries, recreation, and municipal water supplies. The watershed is sensitive to nutrient loading, which can cause algal blooms. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic and nutrient pollution, protecting downstream ecosystems.