Overview
Austin WWTP serves the city of Austin, Indiana, treating wastewater for approximately 4,734 residents. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, ensuring compliance with national discharge standards.
Austin WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Austin, Scott County, Indiana. The plant serves a population of about 4,734 people, making it a small-scale treatment facility typical of rural communities in the Midwestern United States. As a U.S. facility, Austin WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. For plants of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Ohio River basin. The Ohio River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions downstream. The plant's operations help protect water quality in this ecologically significant watershed.
Environmental context
Austin WWTP discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports aquatic habitats and is part of a larger river system that provides drinking water, recreation, and ecological services. The plant's treatment processes help reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, mitigating impacts on downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Austin WWTP is located on South 5th Street in Austin, Scott County, Indiana, United States.
Austin WWTP serves approximately 4,734 residents in the city of Austin and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway that drains into the Ohio River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Austin WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
For small municipal plants in the U.S., secondary treatment is standard, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA effluent guidelines.
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