West Richland Sew Trt Fac - Wastewater Treatment Plant in West Richland, Washington

The West Richland Sew Trt Fac is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in West Richland, Benton County, Washington. It serves a population of around 12,200 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under U.S. regulatory standards. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and its operations are integral to the region's water management infrastructure. As a U.S. facility, the plant is subject to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program under the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires treatment plants to meet effluent limits based on technology and water quality standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Yakima River watershed, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The Yakima River supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon and steelhead, and is an important ecological corridor in the Columbia Basin. The plant's discharge must comply with state and federal standards to protect these downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Yakima River, a tributary of the Columbia River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean. The Yakima River basin supports critical salmonid habitats and is a key agricultural water source. The plant's effluent must meet water quality standards to protect fish populations and downstream uses, including irrigation and recreation.