ALTOONA LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Altoona, Alabama

ALTOONA LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Altoona, Etowah County, Alabama. It serves a small population of 586 residents and operates as a lagoon system providing secondary treatment. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and is part of the wastewater infrastructure for the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level for small communities under the U.S. Clean Water Act. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, regulates discharges from such facilities to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The plant's designed capacity is 264.98, and it currently discharges a volume of 64.35. The treated effluent from ALTOONA LAGOON is discharged into a local water body that eventually drains into the Coosa River basin. The Coosa River is a major tributary of the Alabama River, which flows into the Mobile River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a role in protecting the water quality of these downstream waters by reducing pollutant loads from the community.

ALTOONA LAGOON discharges into a local stream that is part of the Coosa River watershed. The Coosa River flows through Alabama and Georgia, joining the Alabama River and eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic matter and nutrients, protecting downstream water quality and ecological health.