Donaldson WWTP DOC - Bessemer, Alabama Wastewater Treatment Plant

Donaldson WWTP DOC is a wastewater treatment plant located at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama. The facility serves a population of about 1,865, primarily from the correctional facility and surrounding area. As a small-scale plant, it plays a role in managing local wastewater within the Black Warrior River watershed. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. For small facilities like this, typical treatment includes secondary treatment to meet effluent limits. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent likely discharges into a tributary of the Black Warrior River, which flows into the Mobile River and eventually the Mobile Bay estuary. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional ecology. The plant's location inland reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall health of the river system.

The plant's receiving water body is likely a tributary of the Black Warrior River, which flows into the Mobile River and then Mobile Bay, a major estuary on the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including fish and invertebrates, and is an important migratory corridor. The plant's discharge must meet state and federal water quality standards to protect downstream ecosystems.