Decatur POTW Number 2 - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Decatur, Mississippi

Decatur POTW Number 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on South 5th Street in Decatur, Newton County, Mississippi. The plant serves a small population of 723 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for domestic wastewater in the United States. Its designed capacity is 302.83 million gallons per year, and it currently discharges approximately 227.13 million gallons annually, indicating operational headroom. As a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Decatur POTW Number 2 is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Pearl River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems, including wetlands and estuarine habitats, by reducing pollutant loads before discharge.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Pearl River, which flows south through Mississippi and Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico. The Pearl River basin supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and mussel species, and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. Downstream, the river meets the Gulf's estuarine environment, which is ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading and requires careful management of wastewater discharges.