RIENZI POTW - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Alcorn County, Mississippi

RIENZI POTW is a publicly owned treatment works located in Alcorn County, Mississippi, serving a small community of 339 residents. The plant provides advanced treatment, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. As a small-scale facility, it plays a vital role in protecting local water quality in this rural area of northeastern Mississippi. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. With advanced treatment, the facility likely meets stringent effluent limits for nutrients and other pollutants, exceeding the secondary treatment standard typical for smaller plants. Its designed capacity of 227.12 thousand gallons per day and current discharge volume of 53.00 thousand gallons per day indicate ample capacity for current demand. The treated effluent from RIENZI POTW eventually reaches the Tennessee River basin via local streams and creeks. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological integrity of receiving waters in the region.

RIENZI POTW discharges into local tributaries that flow into the Tennessee River, a major waterway in the southeastern United States. The Tennessee River ultimately drains into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, contributing to the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient pollution, which is critical for preventing algal blooms and maintaining healthy aquatic habitats in this sensitive watershed.