UNALASKA WASTEWATER TP, Unalaska

Overview

UNALASKA WASTEWATER TP serves the community of Unalaska, Alaska, treating wastewater from approximately 8,764 residents. The plant is located near Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian Islands.

UNALASKA WASTEWATER TP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving Unalaska, Alaska, including the Dutch Harbor area. The plant serves a population of about 8,764 people and has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day. It is situated on Airport Beach Road in the Unorganized Borough, within the Aleutian Islands chain. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Bering Sea via the surrounding coastal waters. The Aleutian Islands ecosystem supports diverse marine life, including seabirds, marine mammals, and commercially important fish species. Proper wastewater treatment is critical to protect these sensitive waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Bering Sea near Dutch Harbor, a major fishing port. The receiving environment is a cold-water marine ecosystem that supports a rich food web, including salmon, halibut, crab, and marine mammals such as sea lions and seals. The area is ecologically sensitive due to its role as a migratory corridor for seabirds and marine species. Protecting water quality is essential to sustain the local fishing industry and biodiversity.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located on Airport Beach Road in Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Alaska, in the Unorganized Borough.

The plant serves approximately 8,764 residents of Unalaska and the Dutch Harbor area.

The treated wastewater is discharged into the coastal waters of the Bering Sea near Dutch Harbor.

As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

For a community of this size, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.