CLAY COUNTY WATER and SEWER DIST Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hayesville, North Carolina

CLAY COUNTY WATER and SEWER DIST is a wastewater treatment plant located in Hayesville, North Carolina, United States. It serves a population of approximately 1,660 residents in Clay County, operating under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for smaller communities, ensuring that effluent meets environmental standards before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,422.66 thousand gallons per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 439.11 thousand gallons per day. This capacity utilization indicates ample headroom for future growth. As a municipal facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of North Carolina, which set limits on pollutant discharges to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Hiwassee River basin, part of the larger Tennessee River watershed. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational opportunities. The plant's inland location and secondary treatment help mitigate impacts on downstream ecosystems, contributing to the overall health of the region's water resources.

The plant discharges into streams within the Hiwassee River basin, which flows into the Tennessee River and ultimately the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including species sensitive to nutrient pollution. The secondary treatment process reduces organic matter and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in this ecologically important river system.