Marion WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Marion, Arkansas

Marion WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Marion, Crittenden County, Arkansas, serving a population of about 12,543. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 kilometers from the coast, and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment to meet water quality standards. However, under the Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The plant's discharge is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent from Marion WWTP ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin, which is a major ecological and economic resource. The Mississippi River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in the river and the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient pollution can cause hypoxic zones.

Marion WWTP discharges into local streams that flow into the Mississippi River, a major waterway that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia in the Gulf, making effective treatment crucial for downstream environmental health.