Washington WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Washington, Indiana

Washington WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Washington, Daviess County, Indiana. It serves a population of around 15,527, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category for U.S. inland plants. The plant is situated near the White River watershed, which ultimately drains to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. For a plant serving this population, secondary treatment is typically required, with possible additional nutrient removal to protect downstream water quality. Regulatory standards ensure compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent from Washington WWTP discharges into a receiving water body within the White River basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important tributary of the Wabash River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi. Protecting water quality in this watershed is critical for regional ecosystems and downstream communities.

Washington WWTP discharges into a tributary of the White River, which flows into the Wabash River, then the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is used for recreation and drinking water. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf, making effective treatment important for downstream ecological health.