Harris Branch WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Austin, Texas

Harris Branch WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Austin, Texas, within Travis County. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,000 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility in the region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 1,514.16 thousand gallons per day and a current discharge volume of 870.65 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a US plant, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under an NPDES permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Colorado River basin. This river flows through central Texas and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems along its course. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Colorado River, which flows through the Texas Hill Country and into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including several fish species and migratory birds. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream ecosystems from eutrophication.