Overview
UNION CITY STP is a secondary treatment plant serving Union Township, Michigan. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, supporting the St. Joseph River watershed.
UNION CITY STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Creamery Road in Union Township, Branch County, Michigan. It serves a population of approximately 1,767 residents, making it a small-scale plant within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 567.81 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 378.54 cubic meters per day, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters that drain into the St. Joseph River watershed, which flows into Lake Michigan. This connection to the Great Lakes system underscores the plant's role in protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the St. Joseph River, which flows westward through southern Michigan and northern Indiana before entering Lake Michigan near Benton Harbor. The St. Joseph River supports diverse fish populations and provides recreational opportunities. Lake Michigan, as part of the Great Lakes, is a critical freshwater resource, and the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads that could contribute to algal blooms and ecological degradation.
Frequently asked questions
UNION CITY STP is located on Creamery Road in Union Township, Branch County, Michigan, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 1,767 residents in the Union Township area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that are part of the St. Joseph River watershed, which ultimately flows into Lake Michigan.
As a U.S. facility, UNION CITY STP operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
For small communities in Michigan, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. This level effectively removes biodegradable organics and suspended solids to protect receiving water quality.
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