Bauxite WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Bauxite, Arkansas

Bauxite WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Bauxite, Saline County, Arkansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 487 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 473.18 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 208.20 megaliters, the facility operates well below its capacity. Advanced treatment is typical for plants discharging to sensitive water bodies or where higher effluent quality is required. The treated effluent from Bauxite WWTP ultimately drains into the Arkansas River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports water quality in the region.

Bauxite WWTP discharges into local waterways that are part of the Arkansas River basin. The Arkansas River flows southeast through Arkansas and joins the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf and protect freshwater biodiversity in the region.