Summersville Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) - Summersville, West Virginia

The Summersville Wastewater Treatment Plant is a municipal facility located in Summersville, Nicholas County, West Virginia. Serving a population of about 3,791, it is classified as a small to medium-sized treatment plant under US EPA guidelines. As a US facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. For communities of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible nutrient removal if the receiving water body is sensitive. The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Gauley River, a tributary of the Kanawha River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River system. The Gauley River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important recreational resource in the region.

The plant's treated effluent enters a local stream that flows into the Gauley River, a major tributary of the Kanawha River. The Gauley River watershed supports diverse fish populations and provides habitat for aquatic species. Downstream, the Kanawha River joins the Ohio River, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The region's mountainous terrain and forested landscape influence runoff patterns and water quality.