DEKALB POTW NUMBER 2 - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in De Kalb, Mississippi

DEKALB POTW NUMBER 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in De Kalb, Kemper County, Mississippi. Serving a small population of 399, the plant provides advanced treatment to ensure high-quality effluent before discharge. The facility is part of the local infrastructure managed under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which sets standards for wastewater treatment to protect water quality. The plant operates with advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants. With a designed capacity of 605.66 thousand gallons per day and a current discharge volume of 200.63 thousand gallons per day, the facility has ample capacity to serve its community. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements. The treated wastewater is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Pascagoula River basin, a major river system in southeastern Mississippi. The Pascagoula River is one of the last free-flowing river systems in the contiguous United States, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and species. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect this ecologically significant watershed from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Pascagoula River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Pascagoula River basin is known for its high biodiversity, including numerous fish and mussel species. Advanced treatment at the plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in downstream estuaries and coastal waters.