Ocean Drive WWTP, North Myrtle Beach

Overview

Ocean Drive WWTP serves North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day. The plant treats wastewater for approximately 12,000 residents.

Ocean Drive WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States. The plant serves a population of about 12,000 residents in the Ocean Drive Beach area of the city. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements. The designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day indicates a medium-scale plant typical for coastal communities. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean via the Intracoastal Waterway or local tidal creeks. The receiving waters support diverse marine life, including fish, shellfish, and migratory birds, making proper treatment essential for coastal water quality.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near the Grand Strand coastline, a region known for tourism and marine biodiversity. The effluent enters tidal creeks that flow into the Intracoastal Waterway and ultimately the ocean. This coastal environment supports estuarine habitats critical for fish spawning and bird migration, requiring effective nutrient removal to prevent algal blooms.

Frequently asked questions

Ocean Drive WWTP is located at 2nd Ave South in the Belle Park area of Ocean Drive Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina, USA.

The plant serves approximately 12,000 residents in the Ocean Drive Beach community of North Myrtle Beach.

The treated effluent is discharged into tidal creeks that flow into the Intracoastal Waterway, which ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean.

As a US facility, Ocean Drive WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

Plants of this scale typically provide secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EPA standards for coastal discharge.