Decatur WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Decatur, Arkansas

Decatur WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Decatur, Benton County, Arkansas. The plant serves a small community of about 1,700 people, reflecting the rural character of the region. As a small-scale facility, it plays a key role in managing local wastewater and protecting public health. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. Facilities of this size in Arkansas are typically regulated by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality, which issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Arkansas River basin. The Arkansas River flows southeast through Oklahoma and Arkansas before joining the Mississippi River, making the plant's operations relevant to downstream water quality in the Mississippi River watershed. The surrounding area includes agricultural lands and small communities, where proper wastewater treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Arkansas River, which flows through the Ozark region and eventually joins the Mississippi River. The Arkansas River basin supports diverse aquatic life, including several fish species and migratory birds. Proper treatment at Decatur WWTP helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in this ecologically important watershed.