Overview
ABILENE WWTP serves Abilene, Kansas, treating wastewater for approximately 6,570 residents. The plant discharges into local waterways within the Smoky Hill River basin.
ABILENE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas. It serves a population of around 6,570 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under U.S. regulatory frameworks. The plant is situated in the central Great Plains region, an area characterized by agricultural activity and a semi-arid climate. As a U.S. facility, ABILENE WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program governs its discharge, requiring compliance with effluent limits designed to protect water quality. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Smoky Hill River, a tributary of the Kansas River, which ultimately drains into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River. The receiving waters support aquatic life and are used for recreation and irrigation downstream. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.
Environmental context
ABILENE WWTP discharges into the Smoky Hill River watershed, which flows through central Kansas before joining the Kansas River. This river system supports diverse aquatic species and provides water for agricultural and municipal use downstream. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality in these rivers is critical for ecosystem health and human use. The plant's operations help protect downstream habitats from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Frequently asked questions
ABILENE WWTP is located in Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas, United States.
The plant serves approximately 6,570 people, making it a small to medium-sized municipal facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams within the Smoky Hill River basin, which flows into the Kansas River and eventually the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. facility, ABILENE WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
For small to medium agglomerations in the U.S., secondary treatment is typically required under the Clean Water Act, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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