Hot Springs Southwest WWTP - Garland County, Arkansas Wastewater Treatment

Hot Springs Southwest WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Garland County, Arkansas, serving a population of approximately 975 residents. The plant is part of the wastewater infrastructure for the Hot Springs area, operating under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act. As a small-scale treatment plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in receiving streams. The plant's treated effluent flows into local creeks that drain into the Ouachita River, which ultimately reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The facility plays a role in protecting the aquatic ecosystems of the Ouachita River basin, which supports diverse fish and wildlife populations.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Ouachita River, a major waterway in Arkansas that flows south into Louisiana. The Ouachita River supports a variety of aquatic life, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. Downstream, the river joins the Mississippi River, contributing to the nutrient load in the Gulf of Mexico. The facility's discharge is regulated to minimize impacts on the local watershed.