Overview
Franklin WWTP serves Macon County, North Carolina, treating wastewater for approximately 5,300 residents. The plant discharges into local waterways within the Little Tennessee River basin.
Franklin WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Macon County, North Carolina, serving a population of about 5,329 residents. The plant is situated in the mountainous western region of the state, near the town of Franklin. As a facility serving a small agglomeration, Franklin WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard for municipal wastewater plants. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program governs its discharge, ensuring compliance with water quality standards set by the state of North Carolina. The plant's treated effluent flows into the Little Tennessee River watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tennessee River and then the Mississippi River system. This basin supports diverse aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish, making proper treatment essential for ecological health.
Environmental context
Franklin WWTP discharges into the Little Tennessee River basin, a headwater system that flows into the Tennessee River and eventually the Mississippi River. The watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats, including coldwater streams that are home to trout and other sensitive species. The region's mountainous terrain and forested landscape contribute to high water quality standards, requiring effective nutrient removal to protect downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Franklin WWTP is located at 387 Arthur Drake Road in Macon County, North Carolina, near the town of Franklin in the western part of the state.
Franklin WWTP serves approximately 5,329 residents in the Macon County area.
Franklin WWTP discharges into the Little Tennessee River basin, which flows into the Tennessee River and ultimately the Mississippi River system.
Franklin WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of North Carolina, which set limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters.
For a small agglomeration of about 5,300 people, secondary treatment is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act. Many plants in North Carolina also incorporate nutrient removal to protect sensitive watersheds like the Little Tennessee River.
Nearby plants