Overview
Waterville Valley WWTF is an advanced treatment plant serving 3,675 people in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. It discharges 639.74 million gallons per year and operates under US Clean Water Act regulations.
Waterville Valley WWTF is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, serving a population of approximately 3,675 residents. The plant is situated in the White Mountain region of Grafton County, providing essential wastewater services to this small mountain community. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants, ensuring high-quality effluent. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,081.97 million gallons per year and currently discharges 639.74 million gallons annually. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities must obtain NPDES permits from the EPA or authorized state agencies to regulate discharges. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Pemigewasset River, a tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a critical role in protecting the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the White Mountain National Forest and downstream water bodies.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Pemigewasset River, part of the Merrimack River basin, which flows to the Gulf of Maine in the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding White Mountain region supports diverse aquatic life, including cold-water fish species. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.
Frequently asked questions
Waterville Valley WWTF is located at the Waterville Valley Transfer Station on Tripoli Road in Waterville Valley, Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 3,675 residents in the Waterville Valley area.
Waterville Valley WWTF provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants, ensuring high-quality effluent.
Under the US Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment plants like Waterville Valley WWTF must obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to regulate their discharges. These permits set limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
For small communities of about 3,700 people in the US, secondary treatment is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act. However, some plants like Waterville Valley WWTF employ advanced treatment to meet stricter local water quality requirements, especially in sensitive watersheds.
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