Penelope WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Hill County, Texas

Penelope WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Hill County, Texas, United States. The facility serves a small community of approximately 200 residents, reflecting its role in rural wastewater management. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as the minimum standard for municipal wastewater facilities. The plant employs secondary treatment processes, which involve biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 151.42 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 79.49 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to state-level NPDES permits that govern discharge limits and monitoring requirements. Treated effluent from Penelope WWTP is discharged into local streams that drain into the Brazos River basin, a major river system in Texas. The Brazos River flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and providing water for agriculture and communities. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in this ecologically important watershed.

Penelope WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Brazos River, which flows through central Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. The Brazos River basin supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and migratory birds, and is a critical water resource for the region. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollutant loads, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and oxygen depletion.