Overview
West Branch WWTP serves approximately 5,880 people in West Branch Township, Michigan. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, with a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day.
West Branch WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in West Branch Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan. The plant serves a population of about 5,880 residents, making it a small to medium-sized facility within the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a U.S. facility, West Branch WWTP is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program under the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires treatment plants to meet specific effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, which provides a baseline for its operational scale. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron. This region is part of the larger Lake Huron basin, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. Proper treatment at this facility helps maintain water quality in downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Saginaw River watershed, which flows into Saginaw Bay, a shallow, productive arm of Lake Huron. This area supports important fish spawning grounds and migratory bird habitats. The bay is ecologically sensitive due to nutrient loading from agricultural and urban runoff, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and preventing algal blooms.
Frequently asked questions
West Branch WWTP is located on Steve Norton Drive in West Branch Township, Ogemaw County, Michigan, United States.
The plant serves approximately 5,880 residents in West Branch Township and surrounding areas.
The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day, which supports its service to the local community.
As a U.S. facility, West Branch WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit that sets effluent limits to protect water quality in the receiving water body.
The plant's discharge enters the Saginaw River watershed, which flows into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Proper treatment helps protect aquatic habitats and recreational uses in this ecologically important region.
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