Cherokee County WWTP, Leesburg, Alabama | Wastewater Treatment Plant

Cherokee County WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Leesburg, Cherokee County, Alabama. Serving a population of 844, the plant is part of the local infrastructure managed by county authorities. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 946.35 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 389.90 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. This treatment level meets the minimum requirements for municipal wastewater plants in the United States. The treated effluent is discharged into nearby streams that flow into the Coosa River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and aquatic habitats in this inland region of Alabama.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Coosa River, part of the larger Mobile River Basin that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and mussel species. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient and organic loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain ecological balance in downstream waters.