Sophia WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Raleigh County, West Virginia

Sophia WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Raleigh County, West Virginia, serving a population of approximately 1,883. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to protect water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,324.89 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 378.54 m³/day, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. Treated effluent from Sophia WWTP is discharged into local streams that drain into the New River watershed, part of the Ohio River basin. The New River supports diverse aquatic life and is a popular destination for recreation, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality in the region.

Sophia WWTP discharges into tributaries of the New River, which flows through the Appalachian region before joining the Kanawha River and ultimately the Ohio River. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and forested headwaters. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and recreational uses.