Benoit POTW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Benoit, Mississippi

Benoit POTW (Publicly Owned Treatment Works) is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Benoit, Bolivar County, Mississippi. The plant serves a small population of 637 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 333.12 thousand cubic meters per year, with an actual discharge volume of 151.42 thousand cubic meters per year. As a small facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Mississippi River basin. The Mississippi River is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's location in the Mississippi Delta region means its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the river system, which ultimately flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

The plant's discharge enters the Mississippi River watershed, a vast basin that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River supports a rich ecosystem including fish, mussels, and waterfowl. Downstream, the river's delta and the Gulf receive nutrient loads that can contribute to hypoxic zones, making effective wastewater treatment important for regional water quality.