DOC Nottoway Correctional Center Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nottoway County, Virginia

DOC Nottoway Correctional Center is a wastewater treatment plant located in Nottoway County, Virginia, United States. It serves a population of approximately 900 individuals, primarily from the correctional facility and surrounding area. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and operates within the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US EPA for municipal wastewater facilities. Its designed capacity is 378.54 cubic meters per day, matching the current discharge volume, indicating full utilization. As a small-scale facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The plant plays a role in protecting downstream water quality, particularly in the sensitive Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Nottoway River, a tributary of the Chowan River, which drains into Albemarle Sound and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed is part of the larger Chesapeake Bay basin, an ecologically sensitive estuary that supports diverse aquatic species and serves as an important migratory corridor. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the health of downstream ecosystems.