Valrico Regional STP, Valrico

Overview

Valrico Regional STP serves approximately 41,000 people in Valrico, Florida. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and NPDES permitting framework.

Valrico Regional STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Valrico, Hillsborough County, Florida. It serves a population of around 41,000 residents in this suburban community east of Tampa. The plant is part of the region's wastewater infrastructure managed by local authorities. As a U.S. facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Valrico Regional STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary or advanced treatment to meet regulatory standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Tampa Bay estuary, an ecologically important coastal ecosystem. Tampa Bay supports diverse marine life, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and fisheries. The plant's operations are critical to protecting downstream water quality in this sensitive estuarine environment.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Alafia River or similar local watercourses that flow into Tampa Bay, a large estuary on Florida's Gulf Coast. Tampa Bay is a vital habitat for manatees, dolphins, and numerous fish and bird species. The bay's seagrass communities are sensitive to nutrient pollution, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining ecological health.

Frequently asked questions

Valrico Regional STP is located in Valrico, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The facility is situated in a suburban area east of Tampa.

The plant serves approximately 41,000 residents in the Valrico area and surrounding communities in Hillsborough County.

The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that drain into the Tampa Bay estuary, a major coastal ecosystem on Florida's Gulf Coast.

As a U.S. facility, Valrico Regional STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Plants of this scale in Florida typically provide secondary or advanced treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards, especially when discharging into sensitive estuarine waters like Tampa Bay.