Overview
Des Arc WWTP serves approximately 1,717 residents in Des Arc, Arkansas. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits regulating its discharge to protect local waterways.
Des Arc WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Des Arc, Prairie County, Arkansas. Serving a population of about 1,717, the plant is part of the town's essential infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. As a small community facility, it plays a key role in maintaining public health and environmental quality in the region. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant's discharge is regulated by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality, which issues permits that set effluent limits based on the receiving water body's assimilative capacity. The treated effluent from Des Arc WWTP is discharged into a local waterway that eventually drains into the White River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The White River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and habitats.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a local stream that flows into the White River, which meanders through eastern Arkansas before joining the Mississippi River. The White River basin supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The region's flat topography and agricultural land use mean that nutrient management is important to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
Des Arc WWTP is located on AR 323 in Des Arc, Prairie County, Arkansas, United States.
The plant serves approximately 1,717 residents in the town of Des Arc and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that flows into the White River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River.
The plant operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which requires permits that set effluent limits to protect water quality. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment oversees compliance.
For small communities like Des Arc, secondary treatment is typically required, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Some facilities may also incorporate disinfection or nutrient removal depending on local permit conditions.
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