Overview
French Lick WWTP serves West Baden Springs, Indiana, treating wastewater for approximately 2,551 residents. The plant discharges into the local watershed, ultimately draining to the Mississippi River basin.
French Lick WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in West Baden Springs, Orange County, Indiana. It serves a small community of about 2,551 people, typical of rural treatment plants in the Midwestern United States. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring that effluent meets federal water quality standards before discharge. The treated wastewater from French Lick WWTP is released into a local waterway that flows into the Patoka River, a tributary of the Wabash River, which ultimately drains into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This connection highlights the plant's role in protecting downstream water quality in a region known for its agricultural and forested landscapes.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters a local stream that feeds into the Patoka River, part of the Wabash River basin, which flows into the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The region's karst topography and agricultural runoff make effective wastewater treatment crucial for preventing nutrient pollution and protecting downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
French Lick WWTP is located on North Main Street in West Baden Springs, Orange County, Indiana, United States.
The plant serves approximately 2,551 residents, typical of a small community wastewater treatment facility in rural Indiana.
The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that flows into the Patoka River, part of the Wabash River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River.
As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is standard, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting federal effluent guidelines.
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