Overview
TAHOLAH STP is a secondary treatment plant serving 755 people in Grays Harbor County, Washington. It discharges 302.83 units of treated wastewater near the Pacific coast.
TAHOLAH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States. The facility serves a small population of 755 residents and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard minimum for domestic wastewater under the U.S. Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 302.83 units and a discharge volume of 302.83 units, indicating full utilization. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The facility is situated within 10 km of the Pacific coast, making it subject to additional environmental scrutiny under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program. The treated effluent is discharged into the Pacific Ocean via local coastal drainage. The receiving waters support diverse marine life, including salmon, shellfish, and other species important to the region's ecology and tribal fisheries. The plant's operation is critical to protecting coastal water quality and public health in this rural, ocean-facing community.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Pacific Ocean along the Washington coast, a region known for its productive marine ecosystems. The nearshore environment supports critical habitats for salmon, Dungeness crab, and migratory seabirds. The area is part of the larger Olympic Coast ecosystem, which is ecologically sensitive due to upwelling currents that drive nutrient-rich waters and high biological productivity. Protecting water quality here is essential for maintaining healthy fisheries and recreational beaches.
Frequently asked questions
TAHOLAH STP is located in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, near the Pacific coast at South Kalaloch Beach.
The plant serves a small community of 755 people.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Pacific Ocean via local coastal drainage, after secondary treatment.
As a U.S. plant, TAHOLAH STP operates under the Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Secondary treatment is the minimum standard for municipal wastewater.
For small communities in Washington, secondary treatment is standard, often using lagoons or package plants. The state requires compliance with water quality standards for coastal discharges.
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