New Phosphorus Limits Proposed for Freeville Wastewater Treatment Plant

A draft state permit proposes new phosphorus limits for Freeville’s wastewater treatment plant, which discharges treated sanitary wastewater into Fall Creek. The proposal, put forth by the Department of Environmental Conservation, aims to protect Fall Creek and the Cayuga Lake watershed. The proposed monthly average limit for total phosphorus is 1 milligram per liter, corresponding to a load limit of 1.04 pounds a day.

The new limits require the plant to meet stricter environmental standards than the current permit, which only requires monitoring without a numerical concentration limit. The permit renewal, which spans five years from April 1, 2027, through March 31, 2032, suggests that tighter limits will be implemented following necessary plant upgrades.