Overview
Big Bend Water Authority in Steinhatchee, Florida, serves 250 people with advanced treatment. The plant discharges 90.85 units of treated wastewater daily, with a design capacity of 340.69 units.
Big Bend Water Authority is a wastewater treatment plant located in Steinhatchee, Taylor County, Florida, United States. It serves a small population of 250 residents, reflecting its role in a rural coastal community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standard typically required under the U.S. Clean Water Act. Its design capacity of 340.69 units and current discharge volume of 90.85 units indicate operational headroom for future growth. Treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's coastal location places it within 10 km of the coast, making its advanced treatment important for protecting sensitive estuarine and marine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Steinhatchee River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico near the Big Bend region of Florida. This area supports diverse aquatic life, including seagrass beds and fisheries, and is part of a larger estuarine system that provides critical habitat for marine species. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Big Bend Water Authority is located in Steinhatchee, Taylor County, Florida, United States, near the Gulf Coast.
The plant serves a population of 250 people, typical of a small rural community in Florida.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows to the Steinhatchee River and ultimately into the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for most municipal plants.
As a U.S. plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Advanced treatment helps meet stringent water quality standards for coastal discharges.
Nearby plants