Butler WWTP and Sewer System - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Butler, Ohio

Butler WWTP and Sewer System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Butler, Ohio, within Richland County. The plant serves a small population of 921 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. As an inland facility, it operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges to surface waters. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants. With a designed capacity of 473.18 thousand gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 454.25 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates at a high utilization rate. This level of treatment is appropriate for protecting sensitive receiving waters and meeting state water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body 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. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems, including the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient pollution contributes to hypoxic zones.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic species and provides recreational opportunities. Advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, reducing the risk of eutrophication in downstream water bodies.