Huntsville Big Cove WWTP, Huntsville

Overview

Huntsville Big Cove WWTP serves approximately 15,000 people in Huntsville, Alabama. The plant discharges into the Flint River system, part of the Tennessee River basin.

Huntsville Big Cove WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Huntsville, Alabama, along the Flint River Greenway. The plant serves a population of about 15,000 residents in the Big Cove area of Madison County. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Flint River, which flows into the Tennessee River, a major tributary of the Ohio River and ultimately the Mississippi River. The Tennessee River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important resource for drinking water, recreation, and industry in the region.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Flint River, a tributary of the Tennessee River. The Tennessee River flows through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and into the Ohio River, eventually reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including several fish and mussel species, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Downstream waters are used for recreation and municipal water supply.

Frequently asked questions

Huntsville Big Cove WWTP is located along the Flint River Greenway in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, United States.

The plant serves approximately 15,000 residents in the Big Cove area of Huntsville, Alabama.

The plant discharges treated effluent into the Flint River, which flows into the Tennessee River and eventually the Mississippi River system.

As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act. Depending on the receiving water body, additional nutrient removal may be required to protect water quality.