Tatums WWT - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tatums, Oklahoma

Tatums WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Tatums, Carter County, Oklahoma, United States. The plant serves a small population of 170 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 75.71 thousand cubic meters per year and an annual discharge volume of 64.35, it operates below its design capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway, contributing to the Red River basin that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's inland location and small scale reduce its environmental footprint, though proper nutrient management remains important for downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Red River, which flows through Oklahoma and Texas before joining the Mississippi River and reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding watershed supports agricultural land use and diverse aquatic habitats. Maintaining secondary treatment standards helps protect downstream ecosystems from organic pollution and nutrient loading.