Overview
South County Regional WWTP serves Sun City Center, Florida, treating wastewater for approximately 36,900 residents. The plant operates under U.S. EPA and Florida DEP regulations, discharging into local waterways within the Tampa Bay watershed.
South County Regional WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located near Sun City Center in Hillsborough County, Florida. It serves a population of about 36,900, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under U.S. regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated inland but within 50 kilometers of the Gulf Coast, influencing its discharge management. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically required, with potential additional nutrient removal standards to protect sensitive downstream ecosystems. The plant's treated effluent discharges into local tributaries that flow into the Tampa Bay estuary, a vital ecological and economic resource. Tampa Bay supports diverse marine life, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and fisheries, and is a key migratory corridor for birds. Proper treatment helps mitigate nutrient loading and protect water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tampa Bay watershed, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Tampa Bay is a large estuary that supports seagrass beds, mangroves, and diverse aquatic life, including fish, crabs, and birds. Nutrient pollution from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia, so treatment standards are critical for maintaining ecological health in this region.
Frequently asked questions
South County Regional WWTP is located near Sun City Center in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, approximately 30 miles south of Tampa.
The plant serves approximately 36,900 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that flow into the Tampa Bay estuary, which ultimately reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, requiring secondary treatment and possibly nutrient removal.
For a plant of this size in Florida, secondary treatment is standard, often with advanced nutrient removal to protect sensitive coastal waters like Tampa Bay from eutrophication.
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