Desoto County Regional Utility Authority Short Fork POTW - Mississippi Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Desoto County Regional Utility Authority Short Fork POTW is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in DeSoto County, Mississippi, serving a population of about 62,763. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and discharges into local waterways within the Mississippi River basin. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the U.S. Clean Water Act, administered through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality typically issues permits for such facilities, ensuring compliance with effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately drains into the Mississippi River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a larger ecosystem that includes important migratory corridors for fish and birds. Proper treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River basin is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse aquatic species and migratory birds. Nutrient management is critical to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.