North Buffalo WWTP, Greensboro

Overview

North Buffalo WWTP serves Greensboro, North Carolina, treating wastewater for approximately 83,043 residents. The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act's NPDES permit program.

North Buffalo WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving a population of about 83,043. The plant is situated in Guilford County and is part of the city's wastewater infrastructure, which manages effluent from residential and commercial sources. As a medium-to-large agglomeration, the plant is subject to the U. S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits govern discharge limits to protect water quality. Plants of this scale typically employ biological treatment followed by disinfection. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Cape Fear River basin. This river system flows southeast through North Carolina and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear. The plant's operations are crucial for maintaining water quality in the region's streams and downstream ecosystems.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Cape Fear River, which flows through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions of North Carolina before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape Fear basin supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species. Downstream waters are ecologically sensitive, and the plant's nutrient and pathogen removal helps protect these habitats from eutrophication and contamination.

Frequently asked questions

North Buffalo WWTP is located at 3436 White Street in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, United States.

The plant serves approximately 83,043 people in the Greensboro area.

The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that are part of the Cape Fear River basin, which ultimately flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

The plant operates under the U. S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment and requires an NPDES permit issued by the state or EPA to control pollutant discharges.

Plants of this scale typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection (e. g. , chlorination or UV) to meet NPDES permit limits.