Overview
Calera Northside WWTP Camp Branch serves approximately 3,287 people in Calera, Alabama. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program, ensuring treated effluent meets federal standards before discharge.
Calera Northside WWTP Camp Branch is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Horton Cove Road in Calera, Shelby County, Alabama. Serving a population of around 3,287, the plant is part of the town's infrastructure to manage domestic wastewater from the community. As a US-based facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, established by the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires permits for any discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States, with treatment standards typically based on secondary treatment levels for municipal plants of this scale. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Cahaba River watershed, a biologically diverse river system in Alabama. The Cahaba River flows into the Alabama River, then to the Mobile River, and finally into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses along its course.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Camp Branch, a tributary of the Cahaba River, which is known for its high aquatic biodiversity, including numerous fish and mussel species. The Cahaba River flows into the Alabama River, then the Mobile River, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports important ecological functions and provides drinking water for downstream communities.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Horton Cove Road in Calera, Shelby County, Alabama, United States.
The plant serves approximately 3,287 people in the Calera community.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Camp Branch, a tributary of the Cahaba River, which flows to the Alabama River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which requires permits for discharges to surface waters.
For small municipal plants in the US, secondary treatment is typically required, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA effluent guidelines.
Nearby plants