Overview
COLUMBIANA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant serving Columbiana, Alabama. It operates under the US Clean Water Act framework for small communities.
COLUMBIANA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Columbiana, Shelby County, Alabama. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,528 residents, classifying it as a small community system within the state's wastewater infrastructure. As a US-based plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, typically administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Small treatment plants in this category commonly employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or lagoon systems to meet effluent standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway within the Coosa River basin, which ultimately flows into the Mobile River and the Gulf of Mexico. Its operations help protect downstream aquatic habitats and water quality in the region's sensitive riverine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary 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 several fish species and freshwater mussels. The region's karst geology makes groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination, emphasizing the importance of proper wastewater treatment.
Frequently asked questions
COLUMBIANA WWTP is located on West College Street and Industrial Parkway in Columbiana, Shelby County, Alabama, United States.
The plant serves approximately 2,528 residents, classifying it as a small community wastewater treatment system.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway within the Coosa River basin, which flows to the Mobile River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
As a US municipal plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program, typically enforced by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, requiring compliance with effluent limits for secondary treatment.
Small plants serving about 2,500 people commonly use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge, trickling filters, or aerated lagoons to meet EPA standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids.
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