Southeast WPCP Bartow County, Cartersville, Georgia | Wastewater Treatment Plant

Southeast WPCP Bartow County is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 1,100 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or suburban community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Its designed capacity is 7,570.80 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 378.54 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a U.S. facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body within the Etowah River watershed, which flows into the Coosa River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this region, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Etowah River, part of the Coosa River basin that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including several endemic fish and mussel species. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream ecosystems and recreational water uses.