Overview
Sutherlin STP serves approximately 7,950 people in Douglas County, Oregon, as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant operates under U.S. EPA NPDES permitting.
Sutherlin STP is a wastewater treatment facility located in Douglas County, Oregon, serving a population of about 7,950. The plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, treating domestic sewage from the local community. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through an EPA NPDES permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The regulatory framework ensures effluent quality standards are maintained. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Umpqua River basin and then to the Pacific Ocean. The Umpqua River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead trout, making water quality protection important for downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Umpqua River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean near Winchester Bay. The Umpqua River basin supports critical habitat for anadromous fish species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, as well as other native aquatic life. Protecting water quality in this watershed is essential for maintaining the ecological health of the river and its estuary.
Frequently asked questions
Sutherlin STP is located in Douglas County, Oregon, United States, serving the community of Sutherlin and surrounding areas.
The plant serves approximately 7,950 people, classifying it as a small to medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that flows into the Umpqua River basin, ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with an NPDES permit issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements.
Plants of this size in Oregon typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection, to meet state and federal water quality standards.
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