Storey County Wastewater Treatment Plant, Virginia City, Nevada

The Storey County wastewater treatment plant is located in Virginia City, Nevada, United States. It serves a population of approximately 2,517 residents in the historic mining town and surrounding areas. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States. With a designed capacity of 378.54 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 246.05 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility operates below its design capacity. Treatment processes typical for secondary plants include biological treatment followed by sedimentation. The treated effluent is discharged to local waterways that ultimately drain into the Great Basin, an endorheic basin with no outlet to the ocean. The receiving water body supports local aquatic life and is part of the arid region's sensitive water resources. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically fragile area.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Great Basin, a closed drainage basin where water does not reach the sea. This arid region's water bodies are ecologically sensitive, supporting unique aquatic species adapted to high salinity and variable flows. Protecting water quality is critical for maintaining habitat and recreational uses in this watershed.