J A Loughlin WWTP - New Hanover County, North Carolina Wastewater Treatment

J A Loughlin WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 62,813 residents, placing it in the medium agglomeration category. It is situated inland, more than 50 kilometers from the coast, and its operations are regulated under the US Clean Water Act. As a facility serving a population of this scale, the plant is expected to meet secondary treatment standards under the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a facility sized for the community's needs. The plant's regulatory compliance is managed through state-issued permits. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Cape Fear River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor for migratory fish species. The plant's operations contribute to protecting water quality in the downstream watershed and the coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the Cape Fear River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, North Carolina. The river supports a variety of aquatic species and serves as a critical habitat for migratory fish. The downstream environment includes estuarine and coastal ecosystems that are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollutant inputs, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance.