Overview
Mount Vernon WWTP serves 7,478 people in Posey County, Indiana. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Ohio River watershed, ultimately draining to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
Mount Vernon WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Posey County, Indiana, serving a population of approximately 7,478 residents. The plant is situated near the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. As a small to medium-sized facility, it plays a key role in managing local wastewater in this rural region of southwestern Indiana. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For facilities serving populations between 5,000 and 10,000, secondary treatment is typically mandated to reduce biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are designed to meet these federal standards, ensuring compliance with water quality criteria. Effluent from Mount Vernon WWTP is discharged into receiving waters that flow into the Ohio River, a major waterway that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions downstream. The Ohio River eventually joins the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Protecting this watershed is critical for maintaining regional water quality and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Ohio River basin, which drains into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds and freshwater mussels. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf, making effective treatment important for downstream ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
Mount Vernon WWTP is located on Lexan Lane in Posey County, Indiana, near the Ohio River in the southwestern part of the state.
The plant serves approximately 7,478 residents in the Mount Vernon area and surrounding Posey County.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the Ohio River, which is part of the Mississippi River basin.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which sets limits on pollutants.
For facilities of this size, secondary treatment is standard, involving biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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