Taylors Plant Wastewater Treatment Facility, Laurens County, South Carolina

Taylors Plant is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Laurens County, South Carolina, serving an estimated population of 31,000. The plant is situated in the Piedmont region of the state, an area characterized by rolling hills and numerous small waterways that drain into larger river systems. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Taylors Plant is subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is typically mandated, with additional nutrient removal standards applicable in sensitive watersheds. The plant's operational and capacity details are managed by the local utility authority. The treated effluent from Taylors Plant is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately flows into the Saluda River, a major tributary of the Congaree River, which joins the Wateree River to form the Santee River. The Santee River drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational and drinking water resources.

Taylors Plant discharges into a local waterway that is part of the Saluda River basin, which flows into the Congaree River and then the Santee River before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Santee River system supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory species. The region's watershed is important for water supply and recreation, and nutrient management is a key concern to prevent downstream eutrophication.