Franklin WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Franklin, West Virginia

Franklin WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Franklin, West Virginia, serving a population of approximately 1,114 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 946.35 thousand cubic meters per year and an annual discharge volume of 492.10, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Potomac River basin, contributing to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading, making effective treatment essential for downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Potomac River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic species and migratory birds. Nutrient and sediment pollution from wastewater discharges can impact bay health, so secondary treatment helps reduce these loads.