Clarington WWTP and Sewer System - Secondary Treatment Plant in Ohio

Clarington WWTP and Sewer System is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Clarington, Ohio, United States. The facility serves a small population of 444 residents in this rural community along the Ohio River valley. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 189.27 megaliters per year and currently treats approximately 132.49 megaliters annually, indicating operational capacity below design levels. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, secondary treatment is the minimum standard for municipal wastewater plants, and this facility operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The treated effluent from Clarington WWTP is discharged into a tributary of the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting local water quality in the Ohio River watershed, supporting aquatic life and downstream communities that rely on the river for drinking water and recreation.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, which is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Ohio River watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Downstream, the Mississippi River carries the treated effluent to the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, mitigating impacts on the river and coastal environment.