Overview
WANATAH WWTP is a secondary treatment plant in LaPorte County, Indiana, serving about 1,013 people. It discharges treated wastewater into local waterways, operating under U.S. EPA NPDES regulations.
WANATAH WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,013 residents, providing essential wastewater treatment services for the area. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is the minimum standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. With a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 378.54 cubic meters per day, the facility has ample capacity to handle current flows. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from WANATAH WWTP is discharged into local streams that ultimately drain into the Kankakee River basin, a major tributary of the Illinois River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. The plant's location more than 10 km from Lake Michigan reduces direct coastal impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall health of the regional watershed.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local waterways within the Kankakee River basin, which flows into the Illinois River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of aquatic species and is an important ecological corridor. The secondary treatment process helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
WANATAH WWTP is located at West 1450 South in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States, serving the local community of about 1,013 residents.
The plant has a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 378.54 cubic meters per day of treated wastewater.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Kankakee River basin, which flows into the Illinois River and ultimately the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. municipal wastewater plant, WANATAH WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits that set effluent limits to protect water quality.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. This level of treatment removes about 85% of organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring the effluent meets basic water quality standards before discharge.
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