Willoughby Eastlake WWTP, Eastlake

Overview

Willoughby Eastlake WWTP and Sewers serves approximately 42,099 people in Eastlake, Ohio, discharging treated wastewater into Lake Erie. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act with NPDES permits.

Willoughby Eastlake WWTP and Sewers is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 209 Erie Road in Eastlake, Ohio, serving a population of about 42,099. The plant is situated in Lake County, near the shores of Lake Erie, and is part of the regional wastewater infrastructure for the Willoughby-Eastlake area. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. For a population of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal to protect Lake Erie from eutrophication. The plant's treated effluent discharges into Lake Erie, the fourth-largest of the Great Lakes and a critical freshwater resource. The lake supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and yellow perch, and provides drinking water for millions. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Lake Erie basin.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into Lake Erie, part of the Great Lakes system, which drains via the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Erie is ecologically sensitive due to nutrient pollution causing harmful algal blooms, particularly in its western basin. The plant's operations are crucial for maintaining water quality in this important freshwater ecosystem.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located at 209 Erie Road in Eastlake, Ohio, within Lake County, near the shore of Lake Erie.

The plant serves approximately 42,099 people in the Willoughby-Eastlake area of Ohio.

The plant discharges treated effluent into Lake Erie, the fourth-largest Great Lake, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean via the Niagara River and St. Lawrence River.

As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

For a population of this size, secondary treatment is standard, with additional nutrient removal often required to protect Lake Erie from algal blooms.