GOLDEN POTW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Golden, Mississippi

GOLDEN POTW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Golden, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States. The facility serves a small population of 201 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for most municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 227.12 MLD and an actual discharge volume of 37.85 MLD, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating ample headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. The facility is permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from GOLDEN POTW is discharged into local streams that drain into the Tennessee River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, safeguarding the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into small streams within the Tennessee River watershed, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This inland location supports diverse freshwater ecosystems, including fish and macroinvertebrate communities. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies.