EDWARDS POTW SOUTHEAST Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hinds County, Mississippi

EDWARDS POTW SOUTHEAST is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. The facility serves a small population of 258 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or suburban community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 1249.18 units, with an actual discharge volume of 181.70 units, indicating it operates well below its capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant's location inland, more than 50 km from the coast, means its discharge contributes to freshwater systems rather than directly impacting marine environments. Proper treatment helps maintain the ecological health of receiving streams and the broader Gulf of Mexico watershed.

The plant discharges into local tributaries that flow into the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate downstream hypoxia zones in the Gulf.