Overview
WAUCHULA STP serves approximately 4,560 residents in Wauchula, Florida. The plant operates under U.S. EPA and state regulations for municipal wastewater treatment.
WAUCHULA STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 199 Griffin Road in Wauchula, Hardee County, Florida. It serves a population of about 4,560 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its operations are subject to the U.S. Clean Water Act and Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations. As a facility serving fewer than 10,000 people, typical treatment requirements under the Clean Water Act include secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard for municipal plants. Regulatory compliance is enforced through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state. The treated effluent from WA UCHULA STP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Peace River watershed, which flows into the Charlotte Harbor estuary and the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in southwest Florida.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Peace River basin, which flows through Hardee County and downstream to Charlotte Harbor, a large estuary on Florida's Gulf Coast. The Peace River and its tributaries provide critical habitat for fish, manatees, and wading birds. The estuary supports seagrass beds and mangrove forests, which are sensitive to nutrient pollution. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect these downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and algal blooms.
Frequently asked questions
WAUCHULA STP is located at 199 Griffin Road in Wauchula, Hardee County, Florida, United States.
The plant serves approximately 4,560 residents in the Wauchula area.
The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways within the Peace River basin, which flows to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through an NPDES permit, which sets effluent limits and monitoring requirements.
For small-to-medium agglomerations in Florida, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act, often including biological processes and disinfection to protect sensitive downstream waters.
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