Overview
Flatwoods Canoe Run PSD WWTP serves Gassaway, West Virginia, treating wastewater for approximately 4,690 residents. The plant discharges into the Elk River watershed, part of the larger Kanawha River basin.
Flatwoods Canoe Run PSD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located along Elk River Trail in Gassaway, Braxton County, West Virginia. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,690 people, classifying it as a small to medium-sized agglomeration under U.S. regulatory frameworks. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. For plants serving populations around 5,000, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Elk River, 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 for downstream communities, making proper treatment essential for protecting regional water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Elk River, a major tributary of the Kanawha River in West Virginia. The Elk River watershed drains the Appalachian Plateau and supports a variety of fish species, including smallmouth bass and muskellunge. Downstream, the Kanawha River flows into the Ohio River, which is a critical waterway for the central United States. The region's forested terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns influence runoff and streamflow, requiring consistent treatment to prevent nutrient loading and sedimentation in receiving waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located along Elk River Trail in Gassaway, Braxton County, West Virginia, United States.
The plant serves approximately 4,690 residents in the Gassaway area.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Elk River, which flows into the Kanawha River and then the Ohio River.
As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with secondary treatment standards.
For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, followed by disinfection before discharge.
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