Lowell WWTP - McAdenville, North Carolina Wastewater Treatment Plant

Lowell WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in McAdenville, Gaston County, North Carolina. It serves a population of approximately 2,667 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment plant under U.S. regulatory frameworks. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is the minimum standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. With a designed capacity of 2,271.24 units and an average daily discharge of 908.50 units, the facility maintains a utilization rate well below capacity, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the South Fork of the Catawba River, which flows into Lake Wylie and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean via the Santee River system. This waterway supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and drinking water resources for downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the South Fork of the Catawba River, a tributary of the Catawba River basin. The Catawba River flows into Lake Wylie, a major reservoir on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, before joining the Santee River and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The watershed supports a variety of fish species and is an important resource for regional water supply and recreation. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems.