FITZGERALD CS NO 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ben Hill County, Georgia

FITZGERALD CS NO 1 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ben Hill County, Georgia, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,656 residents, placing it in the small community category. Its location in rural southern Georgia places it within the broader context of decentralized wastewater infrastructure common in less densely populated areas. As a US-based plant, FITZGERALD CS NO 1 operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for any discharge to surface waters. For small communities like this, typical treatment includes secondary treatment or equivalent, often using lagoon systems or package plants. Regulatory compliance is enforced by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges to a local stream or tributary within the Ocmulgee River basin, which flows into the Altamaha River and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. The surrounding area is primarily agricultural and forested, with the plant playing a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The plant is located inland in Ben Hill County, Georgia, within the Ocmulgee River watershed. Treated wastewater likely discharges to a small tributary that feeds into the Ocmulgee River, which joins the Altamaha River before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Altamaha River is a major coastal plain river supporting diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this ecologically significant river system.