Southwest Licking Community WSD WWTP and Sewers - Licking County, Ohio Wastewater Treatment

Southwest Licking Community WSD WWTP and Sewers is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Union Township, Licking County, Ohio. Serving a population of approximately 16,000, the plant is part of the regional infrastructure managed by the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. For a population of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal depending on the receiving water body's sensitivity. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Ohio River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations contribute to protecting local water quality in the Licking River and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Licking River watershed, a tributary of the Muskingum River, which flows into the Ohio River. The Ohio River then joins the Mississippi River, draining into the Gulf of Mexico. This basin supports diverse aquatic life, including freshwater mussels and migratory fish, and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant's treatment processes help mitigate impacts on downstream water quality.