UNION POTW Wastewater Treatment Plant, Union, Mississippi

UNION POTW is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Union, Newton County, Mississippi, United States. It serves a population of approximately 2,286 residents and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 1665.58 thousand gallons per day, and it currently discharges an average of 870.65 thousand gallons per day, indicating operational headroom. 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 water body that ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico via the Pearl River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing nutrient and pollutant loads before discharge.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Pearl River, which flows south through Mississippi and Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish and invertebrates, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient enrichment and oxygen depletion in downstream waters, contributing to the ecological health of the Gulf Coast.