ARCADIA STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Carroll County, Iowa

ARCADIA STL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Arcadia Township, Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 483 residents, providing essential sanitation services for the rural community. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements for organic matter and suspended solids removal under the U.S. Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 204.41 volume units and a discharge volume of 143.85 volume units, indicating it operates below its maximum capacity. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this scale are typically permitted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with effluent limits designed to protect local water quality. Secondary treatment is the baseline requirement for municipal plants in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal regulations. The treated effluent from ARCADIA STL is discharged into a nearby water body that drains into the Mississippi River Basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This discharge contributes to the local hydrologic cycle and supports downstream aquatic ecosystems. The plant plays a role in maintaining the ecological health of the region's streams and rivers.

ARCADIA STL discharges into a local watercourse within the Mississippi River Basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are part of a larger watershed that provides habitat for fish and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, which is important for preventing eutrophication in downstream water bodies.