Western Butler County Auth Wastewater Treatment Plant, Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Western Butler County Auth is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Zelienople, Butler County, Pennsylvania. The plant serves a population of about 9,014 residents in the local community and surrounding areas. As a medium-sized agglomeration, it plays a key role in managing wastewater for this part of western Pennsylvania. Under the US Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in the receiving streams. The facility's treatment processes are designed to comply with these federal and state regulations. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Ohio River basin. The Ohio River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing drinking water for millions downstream. Proper treatment at this facility helps maintain water quality in the regional watershed.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as bass and catfish, and provides habitat for migratory birds. Maintaining effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.