Stark Co Magnolia WWTP - Stark County, Ohio Wastewater Treatment Plant

Stark Co Magnolia WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Stark County, Ohio, serving a population of around 3,100. The plant is situated in a rural area of Rose Township, part of the broader Stark County region. As a small-scale facility, it plays a key role in managing local wastewater from residential sources. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. Facilities of this size in Ohio are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 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 into local waterways within the Muskingum River watershed, which ultimately drains to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River system. This connection to a major river basin underscores the importance of proper treatment to prevent nutrient pollution and protect downstream aquatic ecosystems, including the Gulf of Mexico.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Muskingum River, which flows into the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River, reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to hypoxic zones in the Gulf, making effective treatment critical for downstream ecosystem health.