Wilkeson STP, Wilkeson | USA Wastewater

Overview

Wilkeson STP is a secondary treatment plant serving 475 residents in Wilkeson, Washington. It discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, ultimately draining to the Puget Sound.

Wilkeson STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Wilkeson, Pierce County, Washington. Serving a small population of 475, the facility provides secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards under the US Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 136.27 thousand gallons per day and currently discharges 94.64 thousand gallons per day, indicating operational capacity below design. As a secondary treatment facility, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent enters a local waterway that flows into the Puyallup River system, which drains into Commencement Bay and the Puget Sound. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs, and the plant's discharge is regulated to protect downstream water quality and habitat.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Puyallup River, which flows into Commencement Bay in Puget Sound. This estuarine environment supports critical salmonid habitats and migratory bird populations. The watershed is influenced by seasonal rainfall and snowmelt from the Cascade Range, requiring careful management of nutrient and pollutant loads to prevent eutrophication and protect aquatic ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions

Wilkeson STP is located in Wilkeson, Pierce County, Washington, USA, near Cascade Junction.

Wilkeson STP serves a population of 475 residents.

The plant discharges treated effluent into a local tributary that flows into the Puyallup River, which ultimately reaches Commencement Bay and Puget Sound.

Wilkeson STP operates under the US Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

For small communities like Wilkeson, secondary treatment is standard, using biological processes to reduce organic matter and solids before discharge, as required by the Clean Water Act.