Washington Twp RSD WWTP - New Washington, Indiana Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Washington Township Regional Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serves the community of New Washington, Indiana, with a population of approximately 1,641. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring that pollutants are reduced before discharge. With a designed capacity matching its discharge volume of 340.69 units, the plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act. This act requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges, which set limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is released into local streams that drain into the Ohio River watershed, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a role in maintaining water quality in this inland basin, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Ohio River, part of the larger Mississippi River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and provides drinking water for communities downstream. The secondary treatment process reduces organic matter and suspended solids, helping to protect the ecological health of the receiving waters.