Sumiton Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Walker County, Alabama

Sumiton Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Walker County, Alabama, United States. The plant serves a small population of around 835 residents, providing secondary treatment to domestic wastewater. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates as part of the region's water infrastructure. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 643.52 cubic meters, indicating it operates below its design capacity. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to protect water quality. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The treated effluent from Sumiton Lagoon is discharged into nearby streams that ultimately flow into the Black Warrior River, a major tributary of the Mobile River Basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in the watershed, reducing nutrient and pollutant loads that could impact the river's ecological health.

Sumiton Lagoon discharges into local streams that drain into the Black Warrior River, a key waterway in the Mobile River Basin. The Black Warrior River flows southwest through Alabama, eventually joining the Tombigbee River to form the Mobile River, which empties into Mobile Bay. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps control nutrient pollution, which is important for preventing algal blooms and maintaining oxygen levels in the river system.