Powhatan Point WWTP and Sewers - Ohio Wastewater Treatment Plant

Powhatan Point WWTP and Sewers is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 115 Clark Street in Powhatan Point, Belmont County, Ohio. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,744 residents, providing secondary treatment for the community's wastewater. As a small-scale facility, it plays a vital role in protecting local water quality in the Ohio River basin. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment as the minimum level for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 1,287.04 million gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 605.67 million gallons per day, the plant maintains a utilization rate that indicates adequate capacity for its service area. The treatment process ensures that effluent meets federal and state standards before discharge. The treated effluent from Powhatan Point WWTP flows into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. The Ohio River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions of people downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, contributing to the ecological health of the river and the larger Mississippi River watershed.

The plant discharges into the Ohio River, which flows southwest to join the Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois, and ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio River watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps control nutrient pollution, which is a key concern in the Mississippi River basin due to its contribution to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.