Leakesville POTW - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Leakesville, Mississippi

Leakesville POTW (Publicly Owned Treatment Works) is a municipal wastewater facility located on Lindsay Avenue in Leakesville, Greene County, Mississippi. The plant serves a small population of around 1,129 people, reflecting the rural character of the area. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all point source discharges. For small communities like Leakesville, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring compliance with federal effluent guidelines. The facility has a designed capacity of 567.81 volume units, matching its current discharge volume, indicating full utilization of its treatment capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Pascagoula River watershed. This river system flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic habitats. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal region.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Pascagoula River, one of the last free-flowing river systems in the contiguous United States. This watershed supports a rich diversity of fish, mussels, and aquatic plants, including several species of conservation concern. The river ultimately drains into the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, making nutrient and pollutant control critical for coastal ecosystem health.