Overview
KURE BEACH WWTP is an advanced treatment facility in Kure Beach, North Carolina, serving 3,050 people. It discharges 757.08 megaliters annually and is located within 10 km of the coast.
KURE BEACH WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 412 South 4th Avenue in Kure Beach, New Hanover County, North Carolina. Serving a population of approximately 3,050, the plant is situated in a coastal community along the Atlantic Ocean. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standards required by the US Clean Water Act. With a designed capacity of 1,078.84 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 757.08 megaliters, the facility operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters. As a coastal plant within 10 km of the ocean, KURE BEACH WWTP plays a critical role in protecting the marine environment. Treated effluent is discharged into the Cape Fear River basin, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean, supporting estuarine habitats and coastal ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Cape Fear River basin, a major watershed in southeastern North Carolina that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear. This region supports diverse aquatic life, including estuarine species and migratory fish. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect downstream coastal waters, which are ecologically sensitive due to their role as nursery habitats for marine organisms.
Frequently asked questions
KURE BEACH WWTP is located at 412 South 4th Avenue in Kure Beach, New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States.
The plant serves a population of approximately 3,050 people in the Kure Beach area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Cape Fear River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The advanced treatment process ensures high-quality effluent before discharge.
As a US facility, KURE BEACH WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the state of North Carolina.
For small communities in the US, secondary treatment is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act. However, plants in sensitive coastal areas often employ advanced treatment to reduce nutrient pollution and protect marine ecosystems.
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