Dunnellon WWTS - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Dunnellon, Florida

Dunnellon WWTS is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida, serving a population of approximately 1,500. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, with discharge permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, achieving a higher level of pollutant removal than secondary treatment. It has a designed capacity of 1,268.11 m³/day and currently discharges 757.08 m³/day of treated effluent. As a small municipal facility, it meets stringent state and federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately flow into the Gulf of Mexico via the Withlacoochee River and the Gulf Coast. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the Rainbow River and surrounding springs, which are ecologically sensitive and support diverse aquatic life.

The plant discharges into the Withlacoochee River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico near the Big Bend region of Florida. This area supports diverse aquatic habitats, including freshwater springs and estuaries. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in the Rainbow River, a spring-fed system known for its ecological sensitivity and recreational importance.