Overview
Whidbey NavalAir Station Oak Harbor is a wastewater treatment plant in Island County, Washington, serving approximately 7,500 people. The facility operates under U.S. EPA NPDES regulations for municipal wastewater.
Whidbey NavalAir Station Oak Harbor is a wastewater treatment plant located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, within the Puget Sound region. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,500, primarily from the naval air station and surrounding community. As a facility in the United States, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is a small to medium-scale facility. regulations require secondary treatment for municipal plants of this size, unless a waiver is granted. The plant likely employs conventional activated sludge or similar biological treatment to meet permit limits for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into the waters of Puget Sound, a major estuary and part of the Salish Sea. Puget Sound supports diverse marine life, including salmon, orcas, and shellfish. The plant's discharge must comply with water quality standards to protect this ecologically sensitive marine environment, which is also important for tribal fishing and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into Puget Sound, a large estuary connected to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean. Puget Sound is a critical habitat for Pacific salmon, steelhead, and southern resident killer whales. The watershed includes forested uplands and agricultural areas, and the sound's marine ecosystem is sensitive to nutrient loading and contaminants from wastewater. Proper treatment is essential to maintain water quality and support the region's biodiversity and shellfish harvesting.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington, at Lexington Street, 98278. It serves the naval air station and surrounding community.
The plant serves approximately 7,500 people, primarily from the naval air station and nearby residential areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into Puget Sound, a major estuary in the Salish Sea. The discharge is regulated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to protect water quality.
As a U.S. municipal wastewater plant, it must comply with the Clean Water Act, including secondary treatment standards and NPDES permit requirements. The Washington State Department of Ecology issues and enforces the permit.
Plants of this size typically use secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EPA standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. Some may also include disinfection and nutrient removal.
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