Richwood WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Richwood, West Virginia

Richwood WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 98 White Avenue in Richwood, West Virginia, serving a population of about 2,808 residents. The plant is situated in Nicholas County, within the Appalachian region, and plays a key role in managing local wastewater for this small community. As a U.S. facility, Richwood WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For small agglomerations like Richwood, secondary treatment is typically mandated to meet water quality standards. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with federal and state environmental requirements. The treated effluent from Richwood WWTP is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Gauley River, a tributary of the Kanawha River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and drinking water resources downstream.

Richwood WWTP discharges into a local stream that feeds the Gauley River, part of the Kanawha River basin. The Gauley River is known for its whitewater rapids and supports a variety of fish species, including smallmouth bass and trout. Downstream, the Kanawha River flows into the Ohio River, a major tributary of the Mississippi. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and forested headwaters, which provide habitat for diverse wildlife and contribute to regional water quality.