WAUKOMIS WWT - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Garfield County, Oklahoma

WAUKOMIS WWT is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Garfield County, Oklahoma, serving a population of 1,261. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges into waters of the United States. As an advanced treatment plant, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal than secondary treatment, ensuring compliance with stringent water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 776.01 thousand cubic meters per year and currently treats 567.81 thousand cubic meters annually, indicating operational headroom. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) and filtration, which are critical for protecting sensitive downstream environments. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Arkansas River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This location in the Great Plains region means the plant plays a role in maintaining water quality in a watershed that supports agriculture, wildlife, and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Arkansas River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for mitigating hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.