Location: Oak Park Heights Serves: 30,000 people Discharges to: St. Croix River
The St. Croix Valley Facility is our only location on the St. Croix River, a nationally protected waterway. It was our first facility to use ultraviolet disinfection during the normal treatment process. The facility was built in 1959 and upgraded or expanded in 1970, 1973, and 1993.
The facility provides primary, secondary, and advanced treatment to wastewater, including the removal of phosphorus from the effluent before discharging the resulting clean water into the St. Croix River. Solids are transported to the Metro Facility for treatment and beneficial use. The facility uses extensive odor control methods to prevent nuisance odors for surrounding neighbors.
The St. Croix Valley Facility has an excellent environmental record and regularly earns state and national awards for operational excellence. The plant has been a National Association of Clean Water Agencies Platinum Peak Performance award winner for perfect National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit compliance across multiple consecutive years.
Wastewater from three cities is transported through two miles of regional sanitary sewer pipes (interceptors) to the facility.