Overview
McAlester East WWT serves approximately 8,892 people in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater facilities.
McAlester East WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on East Hereford Lane in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The facility serves a population of approximately 8,892 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. As a U.S. plant, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, typically administered by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Under the Clean Water Act, municipal wastewater treatment plants serving populations of this scale are generally required to provide secondary treatment, which removes at least 85% of biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids. The plant's specific treatment process and capacity details are not publicly available, but the regulatory framework ensures compliance with effluent limits designed to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local waterways within the Arkansas River basin, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding region features a mix of rural and urban land use, with the treatment plant playing a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Environmental context
The treated effluent from McAlester East WWT enters local streams within the Arkansas River watershed, which flows through Oklahoma and Arkansas before joining the Mississippi River and reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This drainage network supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as catfish and bass, and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl. The plant's discharge must meet state and federal water quality standards to prevent eutrophication and protect recreational uses in downstream water bodies.
Frequently asked questions
McAlester East WWT is located on East Hereford Lane in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States, near the city of McAlester.
The plant serves approximately 8,892 residents, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under U.S. regulatory standards.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways within the Arkansas River basin, which ultimately flows to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
As a U.S. facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
Under the Clean Water Act, municipal plants of this scale are typically required to provide secondary treatment, which removes at least 85% of organic matter and suspended solids.
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