Surf City WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Surf City, North Carolina

Surf City WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility serving the town of Surf City, North Carolina, a coastal community in Pender County. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,361 people, reflecting a small to medium-sized agglomeration typical of coastal towns in the region. 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 state of North Carolina. For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, and the designed capacity of 1.00 million gallons per day aligns with the population served. The plant's treated effluent discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain to the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal location means the plant plays a role in protecting sensitive estuarine and marine ecosystems, including the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and tidal creeks that support diverse aquatic life.

The plant's discharge enters the Cape Fear River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the southeastern coast of North Carolina. The receiving waters include estuarine habitats that are critical for fish spawning, shellfish beds, and migratory birds. Protecting water quality in this region is essential for maintaining the ecological health of the coastal zone and supporting local fisheries and tourism.