Pelham WWTP - Greenville County, South Carolina Wastewater Treatment Plant

Pelham WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Greenville County, South Carolina, serving an estimated population of 50,000. The plant is situated in the Piedmont region, an area characterized by rolling hills and a humid subtropical climate, and plays a key role in managing wastewater from residential and commercial sources in the growing Greenville metropolitan area. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Pelham WWTP is subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. These regulations mandate secondary treatment as a baseline, with additional nutrient controls in sensitive watersheds. The plant's treatment processes and capacity are designed to meet state-issued permits that ensure compliance with water quality standards for the receiving waters. The treated effluent from Pelham WWTP ultimately discharges into the Saluda River basin, which flows into Lake Greenwood and then the Congaree River, part of the larger Santee River system that drains to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's operations are critical for protecting downstream aquatic habitats and maintaining water quality in this ecologically important watershed.

Pelham WWTP discharges into the Saluda River basin, which flows through the Piedmont region to Lake Greenwood and then the Congaree River, part of the Santee River system that reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as striped bass and American shad, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Nutrient management is important in this watershed to prevent algal blooms and maintain oxygen levels in Lake Greenwood.