Overview
Kanawha PSD WWTP serves approximately 10,923 people in Chelyan, West Virginia, as part of the Kanawha County municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant discharges into the Kanawha River watershed, which ultimately drains to the Ohio River and Mis
Kanawha PSD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Chelyan, West Virginia, serving a population of about 10,923 residents in Kanawha County. The plant is situated along Maccorkle Avenue in the Dickinson area, operating within the Appalachian region's mountainous terrain. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, with additional nutrient removal potentially needed to protect downstream water quality. The plant's treated effluent discharges into the Kanawha River, a major tributary of the Ohio River. The Kanawha River flows through West Virginia, joining the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, and eventually reaches the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including several fish species and freshwater mussels, and is an important resource for recreation and drinking water.
Environmental context
The Kanawha PSD WWTP discharges into the Kanawha River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Kanawha River watershed is ecologically significant, supporting a variety of fish and freshwater mussel species. The region's steep terrain and coal mining history contribute to sediment and metal loading, making effective wastewater treatment crucial for maintaining water quality in this sensitive Appalachian river system.
Frequently asked questions
Kanawha PSD WWTP is located on Maccorkle Avenue in the Dickinson area of Chelyan, West Virginia, within Kanawha County.
The plant serves approximately 10,923 residents in the Chelyan area and surrounding parts of Kanawha County.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Kanawha River, which flows into the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
As a US facility, Kanawha PSD WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, which sets effluent limits for pollutants.
For a community of this size, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, often including biological processes like activated sludge or trickling filters, with disinfection before discharge.
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