Overview
Opelika Eastside WWTP serves 25,500 residents in Opelika, Alabama. The facility operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits regulating its discharge to protect local waterways.
Opelika Eastside WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Opelika, Alabama, serving a population of approximately 25,500. Situated in Lee County, the plant is part of the city's infrastructure for managing domestic and industrial wastewater. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, the plant is required to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit conditions. For a facility of this scale, secondary treatment is typically mandated, with possible additional nutrient controls depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Chattahoochee River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico via the Apalachicola River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Chattahoochee River, which flows through Alabama and Georgia before forming the Apalachicola River in Florida. The Apalachicola River empties into the Apalachicola Bay, an ecologically productive estuary supporting fisheries and migratory birds. The watershed is sensitive to nutrient loading, which can impact downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.
Frequently asked questions
Opelika Eastside WWTP is located on Columbus Parkway in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama, United States.
The plant serves approximately 25,500 residents in the Opelika area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that are part of the Chattahoochee River basin, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, requiring an NPDES permit issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to regulate discharges.
For a plant of this size, secondary treatment is standard, often including biological processes like activated sludge. Additional nutrient removal may be required if the receiving water body is sensitive to eutrophication.
Nearby plants