Olanta Coll Sys Wastewater Treatment Plant, McKenzie Crossroads, South Carolina

Olanta Coll Sys is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located near McKenzie Crossroads in Florence County, South Carolina. The plant serves a small population of 646 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. As a secondary treatment plant, Olanta Coll Sys uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For a plant of this size, typical permits include effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other parameters. The treated effluent from Olanta Coll Sys flows into nearby streams that are part of the Pee Dee River watershed. The Pee Dee River ultimately drains into Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a role in protecting local water quality and the downstream aquatic ecosystem, which supports diverse fish and wildlife species.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Pee Dee River, which flows through South Carolina to Winyah Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Pee Dee River basin supports a variety of aquatic life, including fish species such as striped bass and American shad. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream habitats from eutrophication and contamination.