Overview
Brownsville Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility serving approximately 4,500 residents in Haywood County, Tennessee. It operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act framework, with discharge likely to local waterways in the Mississippi River basin.
Brownsville Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located along State Route 54 in Haywood County, Tennessee, serving an estimated population of 4,500. The plant is situated in the rural West Tennessee region, an area characterized by agricultural land and small communities. As a lagoon-based system, it provides primary or secondary treatment through natural biological processes, which is common for small communities in the United States. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in receiving streams. For lagoon systems, treatment relies on settling and biological degradation, with discharge often seasonal or controlled to meet permit conditions. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into a local tributary of the Hatchie River or another watercourse within the Lower Mississippi River basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and provides important habitat for migratory birds. The facility plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the ecologically significant Mississippi River floodplain.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the Hatchie River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The Hatchie River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the region, supporting diverse fish and mussel populations. The facility's treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
Brownsville Lagoon is located on State Route 54 in Haywood County, Tennessee, in the West Tennessee region of the United States.
The plant serves approximately 4,500 residents in the Haywood County area.
As a lagoon system, treated wastewater is likely discharged into a local tributary of the Hatchie River, which flows into the Mississippi River basin.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to regulate effluent quality.
Small communities in the U.S. often use lagoon systems or package plants that provide secondary treatment, meeting EPA standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids.
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