Elm Springs WWTP, Springdale, Arkansas | Advanced Wastewater Treatment

Elm Springs WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Springdale, Arkansas, within Benton County. It serves a small population of 336 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or suburban community. The plant is part of the broader wastewater infrastructure managed under state and federal oversight. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 158.99 units and a current discharge volume of 136.28 units, the plant operates efficiently within its capacity. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities require National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Arkansas River watershed, part of the Mississippi River basin. This downstream system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Arkansas River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient pollution, helping to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf.