Overview
Sunnyside POTW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 16,010 people in Sunnyside, Washington. It operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework.
Sunnyside POTW is a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) located in Sunnyside, Washington, a city in Yakima County. The plant serves a population of about 16,010 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. As a municipal facility, it plays a key role in managing wastewater from the local community. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. The plant's treatment processes are designed to comply with state and federal regulations, ensuring that effluent quality protects receiving waters. The Washington State Department of Ecology oversees NPDES permits in the state. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Yakima River basin, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The Yakima River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead, and is an important water resource for irrigation and recreation in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Yakima River watershed, a tributary of the Columbia River. The Columbia River flows to the Pacific Ocean, supporting a major salmon migration corridor. The Yakima River basin is ecologically sensitive, providing habitat for threatened fish species and sustaining agricultural irrigation in the arid region.
Frequently asked questions
Sunnyside POTW is located on South 4th Street in Sunnyside, Yakima County, Washington, United States.
The plant serves approximately 16,010 people in the Sunnyside area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Yakima River basin, which flows into the Columbia River and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology, requiring secondary treatment and compliance with water quality standards.
Plants of this size typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection, to meet EPA standards for BOD, TSS, and pathogens.
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