Overview
Mena WWTP serves the city of Mena, Arkansas, treating wastewater for a population of approximately 5,737. The plant is located in Polk County and discharges into local waterways.
Mena WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the city of Mena in Polk County, Arkansas. The plant treats wastewater from a population of about 5,737 residents, typical of a small community in the Ouachita Mountains region. As a small-scale facility in the United States, Mena WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. Plants of this size commonly use lagoon or activated sludge systems. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Ouachita River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
Mena WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Ouachita River, which flows through Arkansas and Louisiana before joining the Mississippi River. The Ouachita River supports diverse aquatic life, including several fish species and freshwater mussels. The surrounding Ouachita Mountains region is ecologically sensitive, with forested watersheds that require careful management to prevent nutrient pollution and maintain water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Mena WWTP is located in Polk County, Arkansas, United States, at Polk Road 646, serving the city of Mena.
Mena WWTP serves a population of approximately 5,737 people, typical of a small community in rural Arkansas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Ouachita River watershed, which ultimately flows to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Mena WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, setting effluent limits to protect water quality.
Small plants in the U.S. often use lagoon systems or activated sludge processes, with secondary treatment as the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act.
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