ELK VALLEY PSD WWTP - Big Chimney, West Virginia Wastewater Treatment Plant

ELK VALLEY PSD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Big Chimney, Kanawha County, West Virginia, serving a population of about 11,087. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the broader wastewater infrastructure for the region. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and operates under an EPA NPDES permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. Such permits set effluent limits to protect water quality, and treatment typically includes secondary treatment as a minimum standard for municipal plants of this scale. The plant's treated effluent discharges into a tributary of the Kanawha River, which flows into the Ohio River and ultimately the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water and recreational opportunities for downstream communities. Proper treatment is essential to maintain the ecological health of these waterways.

The plant discharges into the Kanawha River watershed, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Kanawha River flows through West Virginia and supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including species of recreational and ecological importance. Downstream, the Ohio River joins the Mississippi River, draining into the Gulf of Mexico. The region's aquatic ecosystems are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollutants, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and biodiversity.