ARNOLD WWTP - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Arnold, Nebraska

ARNOLD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Arnold, Nebraska, serving a population of approximately 912 residents. The plant is situated in Custer County, a rural area in the central part of the state, and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required for municipal wastewater in the United States. With a designed capacity of 302.83 volume units and a discharge volume matching that figure, the facility is operating at full capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Platte River basin, a major tributary of the Missouri River. The Platte River system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's location inland and away from coastal areas reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the regional river system.

The treated effluent from ARNOLD WWTP enters the local watershed, which flows into the Platte River system. The Platte River is a vital waterway in Nebraska, supporting diverse aquatic species and serving as a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Central Flyway. The river eventually joins the Missouri River, which drains into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the nutrient load in this downstream chain, making proper treatment essential for maintaining water quality in these ecologically significant waters.