Alvord WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Alvord, Iowa

Alvord WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Alvord, Lyon County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 204 residents, reflecting the rural character of the community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to protect water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 113.56 megaliters and an actual discharge volume of 37.85 megaliters, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Missouri River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's surface water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems in the Upper Midwest.

The plant discharges into the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico. This basin supports diverse aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The region's agricultural landscape means that nutrient management is critical to prevent downstream eutrophication in the Gulf.