CARTER WWT Wastewater Treatment Plant, Beckham County, Oklahoma

CARTER WWT is a wastewater treatment facility located in Beckham County, Oklahoma, serving a small population of 254 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. As a secondary treatment plant, CARTER WWT meets the US Clean Water Act requirements for biological treatment of organic matter. The facility has a designed capacity of 113.56 volume units, matching its discharge volume, indicating full utilization. It operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. The plant's treated effluent is discharged to a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Red River basin, which ultimately flows to the Gulf of Mexico. This discharge supports the local hydrologic cycle and must comply with water quality standards to protect downstream aquatic life.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Red River watershed, which drains into the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding area is semi-arid, with intermittent streams that support limited aquatic life. Protecting water quality is important for downstream ecosystems, including fish and migratory birds in the Gulf region.