Overview
Southside STP 2 in Tyler, Texas, serves approximately 35,000 people. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits regulating its discharge.
Southside STP 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Tyler, Texas, serving a population of about 35,000. The plant is part of the city's wastewater infrastructure, handling residential and commercial flows from the southern part of Tyler. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These permits set effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other parameters to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Neches River basin, which flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. The Neches River supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Neches River, which flows through East Texas piney woods and wetlands before emptying into Sabine Lake and the Gulf of Mexico. The Neches River basin is ecologically significant, supporting fish species such as alligator gar and paddlefish, and providing habitat for migratory waterfowl. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution that could harm downstream estuarine ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Southside STP 2 is located at 620 West Cumberland Road in Tyler, Texas, United States.
The plant serves approximately 35,000 people in the southern part of Tyler, Texas.
The plant discharges treated effluent to a local waterway that flows into the Neches River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that set effluent limits for pollutants.
Plants of this size typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, followed by disinfection, to meet NPDES permit requirements.
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