Overview
McRae WWTP in White County, Arkansas, serves 682 people with advanced treatment. The plant discharges 257.41 thousand cubic meters annually and has a designed capacity of 605.66 thousand cubic meters.
McRae WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in White County, Arkansas, United States. It serves a small population of 682 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small-town community. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the US EPA for most municipal facilities. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal or other processes to meet stringent water quality standards. The plant's designed capacity is 605.66 thousand cubic meters, with an actual discharge volume of 257.41 thousand cubic meters, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Arkansas River watershed, part of the larger Mississippi River basin. This downstream system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the ecological health of the receiving waters and downstream environments.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Arkansas River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Arkansas River watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
McRae WWTP is located on Towns Drive in White County, Arkansas, United States. It serves the local community of McRae and surrounding areas.
McRae WWTP serves a population of approximately 682 people, typical of a small municipal wastewater system in rural Arkansas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that is part of the Arkansas River watershed. The advanced treatment process ensures the effluent meets strict water quality standards before release.
As a US facility, McRae WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the US EPA and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. It must comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.
For small populations, secondary treatment is the federal minimum. However, McRae WWTP provides advanced treatment, which may include nutrient removal to protect sensitive downstream waters like the Gulf of Mexico.
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