MIZE POTW - Mize, Mississippi Wastewater Treatment Plant

MIZE POTW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Oak Street in Mize, Smith County, Mississippi. It serves a small community of 445 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. The plant's designed capacity is 378.54 units, and it discharges an average of 94.64 units of treated effluent. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this size are typically permitted by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treatment process meets secondary treatment standards, which involve biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Leaf River system, part of the Pascagoula River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in the Gulf of Mexico coastal region.

MIZE POTW discharges into a tributary of the Leaf River, which flows into the Pascagoula River before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Pascagoula River basin is one of the last free-flowing river systems in the contiguous United States, supporting a rich diversity of fish, mussels, and other aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.