Overview
Checotah PWA WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 3,500 residents in Checotah, Oklahoma. It operates under the US Clean Water Act framework, with state-level NPDES permitting.
Checotah PWA WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on East Gentry Avenue in Checotah, Oklahoma. The plant serves a population of about 3,481 people, reflecting a small community in McIntosh County. As part of the US wastewater infrastructure, it plays a key role in managing local sewage and protecting public health. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges into surface waters. For small agglomerations like Checotah, secondary treatment is typically mandated to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The facility's treatment processes and capacity are designed to meet state and federal standards for its population tier. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Arkansas River basin, contributing to the Mississippi River watershed. This connection underscores the plant's role in maintaining water quality in downstream ecosystems, including lakes and rivers that support regional biodiversity and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Arkansas River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply and recreation. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in a region characterized by agricultural and rural land use.
Frequently asked questions
Checotah PWA WWT is located on East Gentry Avenue in Checotah, McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States.
The plant serves approximately 3,481 residents, representing a small municipal agglomeration.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that drains into the Arkansas River basin, part of the larger Mississippi River watershed.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Small plants like this typically need secondary treatment.
For small communities, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The EPA sets effluent limits under the NPDES program.
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