Cotter Gassville WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Cotter, Arkansas

Cotter Gassville WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cotter, Baxter County, Arkansas, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,048 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the typical requirement for small to medium communities under the U.S. Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,892.70 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 847.93 m³/day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment facility, it utilizes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. The treated effluent is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the White River system, which flows through the Ozark Mountains and into the Mississippi River. The White River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's location inland and away from coastal areas reduces direct marine impact.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the White River, which flows through northern Arkansas and southern Missouri before joining the Mississippi River. The White River watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The region's karst topography means groundwater and surface water are closely connected, making proper treatment essential for protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.