STAUNTON RIVER LAGOON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Brookneal, Virginia

STAUNTON RIVER LAGOON is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Brookneal, Campbell County, Virginia. The plant serves a small population of 573 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. Its designed capacity is 302.83 million gallons per year, with an actual discharge volume of 151.42 million gallons per year. As a secondary treatment plant, it utilizes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, consistent with typical lagoon systems in rural areas. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For small communities like Brookneal, secondary treatment is the standard requirement to protect downstream water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the Staunton River, which flows into the Roanoke River and eventually reaches the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's location inland and its small population served reduce its overall environmental footprint.

The plant discharges into the Staunton River, a tributary of the Roanoke River, which flows into the Albemarle Sound. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including migratory fish, and is ecologically sensitive due to its role in the broader Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this river system.