Overview
Winthrop S_T Facility serves Oroville, Washington, treating wastewater for approximately 510 residents. The plant operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations for small communities.
The Winthrop S_T Facility is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Oroville, Washington, a small community in Okanogan County near the Canadian border. The plant serves a population of about 510 people, reflecting the rural character of the area. As a small facility in the United States, the plant is subject to the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits based on the receiving water body's quality standards. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment or equivalent technologies to meet regulatory requirements. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to a local waterway within the Okanogan River watershed, which flows south to join the Columbia River. The Columbia River system supports diverse aquatic life, including salmon runs, and is a critical resource for irrigation, recreation, and hydroelectric power in the Pacific Northwest.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Okanogan River basin, a tributary of the Columbia River. The Columbia River is one of North America's largest rivers, supporting ecologically significant salmon and steelhead populations. Downstream, the river flows through the Columbia River Gorge and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural land use make water quality management important for both ecological health and human use.
Frequently asked questions
The Winthrop S_T Facility is located at 998 Main Street in Oroville, Washington, in Okanogan County near the Canadian border.
The plant serves approximately 510 residents in the Oroville area, a small rural community.
The plant discharges treated effluent to a local waterway within the Okanogan River watershed, which flows into the Columbia River and eventually the Pacific Ocean.
As a U.S. wastewater plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated through an NPDES permit issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Small plants in the U.S. typically use secondary treatment, such as activated sludge or lagoon systems, to meet EPA effluent guidelines for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids.
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