THOMAS PWA WWT - Thomas, Oklahoma Wastewater Treatment Plant

THOMAS PWA WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on East Kansas Street in Thomas, Custer County, Oklahoma. The plant serves a small community of about 1,238 people, reflecting the rural character of the region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. It operates with a designed capacity of 541.31 units and a current discharge volume of 454.25 units, indicating it is operating below its design capacity. As a U.S. facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Washita River basin. The Washita River flows through western Oklahoma and eventually joins the Red River, which forms part of the Texas-Oklahoma border and drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and water quality in this semi-arid region.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that is part of the Washita River basin. The Washita River flows southeast through Oklahoma, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and communities. Downstream, the river joins the Red River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality in these rivers is critical for both ecological health and human use.