Are wastewater treatment plants polluting the Nooksack River?

In the Nooksack River, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not a likely source contributing to increased fecal coliform levels.

WWTPs at Everson, Lynden and Ferndale have Individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to discharge to the Nooksack River. Permits require that WWTPs regularly monitor effluent for several parameters, including fecal coliform and specify a monthly geometric mean limit (28 CFU/100mL) for the treated water that empties to the Nooksack River. The WWTPs all comply with their permits.

Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) accredits the WWTP labs that analyze samples. An Ecology permit manager monitors required monthly reporting, annually inspects facilities, and verifies sampling results through duplicate samples analyzed elsewhere.

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1. How does fecal coliform bacteria pollution get into water?
3. Are wastewater treatment plants polluting the Nooksack River?
7. What can I do about fecal bacteria pollution?
8. Who can help me prevent manure-related pollution?
11. How does Whatcom County decide when to sample water?
12. Can wood waste contribute to bacteria pollution?
13. Can Klebsiella be harmful to people?