HANCOCK CO PSD ROUTE 2 WWTP - Hancock County, West Virginia Wastewater Treatment

HANCOCK CO PSD ROUTE 2 WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Hancock County, West Virginia, serving a population of 2,486. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. As a smaller facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The plant provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 870.65 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The treatment process meets the minimum federal requirements for municipal wastewater treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. The Ohio River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions downstream. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the Ohio River basin, which is managed under the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) compact.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Ohio River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Downstream, the Mississippi River delivers water to the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting the ecological health of the receiving waters.