Overview
COOLIDGE LAS is a primary treatment plant in Thomas County, Georgia, serving 550 people. It discharges 189.27 units of treated wastewater daily, with a designed capacity of 314.19 units.
COOLIDGE LAS is a wastewater treatment plant located in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. It serves a small population of 550 residents, reflecting its role as a local facility for a rural community. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes like sedimentation to remove solids. Its designed capacity is 314.19 units, and it currently discharges 189.27 units, indicating it operates below capacity. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level oversight by Georgia's Environmental Protection Division, which issues permits and ensures compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from COOLIDGE LAS is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Ochlockonee River basin, which flows south into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's location inland, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the freshwater ecosystem and downstream water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local water body within the Ochlockonee River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides habitat for fish and other species. The plant's primary treatment level means that only basic solids removal occurs, so the effluent still contains organic matter and nutrients that could affect oxygen levels and algal growth in the receiving stream. Downstream, the river flows through rural and forested areas before reaching Apalachee Bay, an ecologically sensitive estuary.
Frequently asked questions
COOLIDGE LAS is located in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The facility serves the local community of Coolidge and surrounding areas.
The plant serves a population of 550 people, making it a small-scale facility typical of rural communities in southern Georgia.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Ochlockonee River basin, which ultimately flows to the Gulf of Mexico.
COOLIDGE LAS provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes such as sedimentation to remove suspended solids. This is the minimum level required under the US Clean Water Act for small facilities, though secondary treatment is more common for larger plants.
As a US facility, COOLIDGE LAS operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all point source discharges. The permit sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality. For small plants like this, state agencies like Georgia EPD oversee compliance.
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