Overview
Hancock County U A WAVELAND T is a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Waveland, Mississippi, serving approximately 29,263 people. The facility is located near the Gulf Coast and operates under U.S. EPA and state regulatory oversight.
Hancock County U A WAVELAND T is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 499 Gulfside Street in Waveland, Mississippi. The facility serves a population of approximately 29,263 residents in the Hancock County area, situated along the Gulf of Mexico coast. As a publicly owned treatment works, it plays a key role in managing wastewater for this coastal community. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, municipal wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, governs discharge limits and monitoring requirements for the facility. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi Gulf Coast region supports diverse estuarine habitats, including marshes and seagrass beds, which are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollutant inputs. Proper treatment and discharge management are essential to protect these coastal ecosystems and maintain water quality for recreational and ecological uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into receiving waters that flow into the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, a major marine ecosystem. The coastal waters support fisheries, migratory birds, and marine species. Nutrient and pathogen control from wastewater treatment is critical to prevent algal blooms and maintain shellfish harvesting areas in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 499 Gulfside Street in Waveland, Mississippi, within Hancock County along the Gulf Coast.
The facility serves approximately 29,263 residents in the Waveland area and surrounding parts of Hancock County.
Treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that flow into the Mississippi Sound and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, under an NPDES permit issued by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. Discharge is regulated via an NPDES permit that sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
Plants of this size typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, often followed by disinfection. Advanced treatment may be required if discharging to sensitive waters.
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