Overview
Howard F Curren AWTP serves Tampa, Florida, treating wastewater for approximately 375,000 residents. The plant operates under US EPA and Florida DEP regulations, discharging into Tampa Bay.
Howard F Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWTP) is a major municipal facility serving Tampa, Florida, with a population equivalent of 375,000. Located at 2545 Guy N Verger Boulevard in Hillsborough County, the plant is part of the city's wastewater infrastructure. As a large agglomeration exceeding 100,000 people, the plant is subject to US Clean Water Act requirements and Florida Department of Environmental Protection permits. Advanced treatment is typical for facilities discharging into sensitive coastal waters like Tampa Bay, often including nutrient removal to protect estuarine ecosystems. The plant's treated effluent flows into Tampa Bay, an estuary of the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa Bay supports diverse marine life, including seagrass beds and mangroves, and is a critical habitat for fish, birds, and invertebrates. The plant's performance directly affects water quality in this ecologically important coastal system.
Environmental context
Howard F Curren AWTP discharges into Tampa Bay, a large estuary on Florida's Gulf Coast that connects to the Gulf of Mexico. The bay is a productive ecosystem supporting seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, and mangrove forests, which provide nursery habitat for commercially important fish and shellfish. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, making advanced treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
Howard F Curren AWTP is located at 2545 Guy N Verger Boulevard in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States.
The plant serves approximately 375,000 residents in the Tampa area, classifying it as a large agglomeration under regulatory frameworks.
The plant discharges treated effluent into Tampa Bay, an estuary on Florida's Gulf Coast that ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, administered by the EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Large facilities like this require NPDES permits that set limits on pollutants to protect receiving waters.
For large coastal plants in Florida, advanced wastewater treatment is common, including biological nutrient removal to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus, protecting sensitive estuarine ecosystems like Tampa Bay.
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