Aulander WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Aulander, North Carolina

Aulander WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Aulander, Bertie County, North Carolina. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,138 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the US. Its designed capacity is 1,290.82 volume units, with an average daily discharge of 458.04 volume units. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reducing direct marine impact. Treated effluent from the plant flows into local streams that are part of the Chowan River basin, which ultimately drains into Albemarle Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The facility plays a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, which supports diverse aquatic life and important fisheries.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Chowan River, which flows into Albemarle Sound, a large estuarine system along the North Carolina coast. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats, including wetlands and nursery grounds for fish and shellfish. The region is part of the larger Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system, one of the largest and most productive in the United States.