Overview
Altona STP is a secondary treatment plant in Galesburg, Illinois, serving 545 people. It discharges 264.98 units of treated wastewater daily, with a designed capacity of 302.83 units.
Altona STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located at 699 West Main Street in Galesburg, Illinois, United States. The facility serves a small population of 545 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small-town setting within Knox County. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 302.83 units and an average daily discharge of 264.98 units, the plant operates below its capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, such facilities are regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, which set effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Illinois River or Mississippi River basin. This discharge contributes to the overall water quality management in the region, supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses. The plant's inland location, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local water body within the Mississippi River watershed, which ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a major migratory corridor for birds and fish. The secondary treatment process helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing downstream eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico's hypoxic zone.
Frequently asked questions
Altona STP is located at 699 West Main Street in Galesburg, Illinois, United States, within Knox County.
The plant serves a population of 545 people, indicating a small-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
Altona STP provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids, meeting typical requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act.
As a U.S. plant, Altona STP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated via an NPDES permit, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Small plants like this often have simpler permits but must still comply with federal and state standards.
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