Opelika Westside WWTP, Opelika

Overview

Opelika Westside WWTP serves approximately 18,900 people in Opelika, Alabama. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, discharging treated wastewater into the local watershed.

Opelika Westside WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Opelika, Alabama, serving a population of about 18,900 residents. The plant is situated in Lee County, near the Grand National Parkway, and is part of the city's wastewater infrastructure. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Chattahoochee River basin. The Chattahoochee River flows southward, forming part of the border between Alabama and Georgia, and eventually empties into the Apalachicola Bay in Florida, a critical estuary supporting diverse aquatic life.

Environmental context

The plant's discharge enters the local tributaries of the Chattahoochee River, which flows through the southeastern United States. The Chattahoochee River supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. Downstream, the Apalachicola Bay is a productive estuary known for its oyster fisheries and seagrass beds, making nutrient management important for protecting downstream water quality.

Frequently asked questions

Opelika Westside WWTP is located at 1012 Grand National Parkway in Opelika, Alabama, within Lee County.

The plant serves approximately 18,900 residents in the Opelika area.

The treated wastewater is discharged into local tributaries that flow into the Chattahoochee River, which eventually reaches Apalachicola Bay in Florida.

As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

Plants of this size typically provide secondary treatment, and may include additional nutrient removal if the receiving water body is sensitive to eutrophication.