South Salem WWTP and Sewer System - Ohio Wastewater Treatment Plant

The South Salem WWTP and Sewer System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Westfall Road in South Salem, Ross County, Ohio. It serves a small population of approximately 250 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal influences, and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for municipal wastewater in the United States under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). With a designed capacity of 117.35 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 75.71 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility operates below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Ohio River basin. The Ohio River ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including aquatic habitats in the region.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Ohio River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.