Southside Ready Mix Stormwater Outfall, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Southside Ready Mix is a stormwater outfall located at 5215 South Zero in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas. It serves a concrete manufacturing facility (NAICS 327320) and operates under the United States stormwater regulatory framework, which includes NPDES MS4 permits for industrial activities. The facility is classified as a stormwater outfall, managing runoff from an industrial catchment. In Arkansas, stormwater discharges are regulated by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality, which implements the Clean Water Act's NPDES program. Industrial facilities like concrete batch plants typically require a Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for stormwater discharges. As a stormwater outfall for a concrete manufacturing site, this facility plays a role in controlling runoff that may contain sediment, pH-altering substances, or other pollutants common to construction materials industries. Proper management helps protect local water quality in the Arkansas River watershed, which receives drainage from the Fort Smith area.

The outfall discharges into the Arkansas River watershed, which is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with significant rainfall, making stormwater management critical to prevent erosion and pollutant transport. Industrial catchments like concrete plants can contribute sediment and alkaline runoff, requiring compliance with EPA effluent guidelines and local MS4 permits to protect aquatic habitats.