Askov WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant Serving Askov, Minnesota

Askov WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Askov, Pine County, Minnesota, United States. The plant serves a small population of 311 residents, reflecting its role in a rural 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 189.27 megaliters per year and an actual discharge volume of 75.71 megaliters, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating ample headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the St. Croix River watershed, a tributary of the Mississippi River. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for recreational use and downstream ecosystems. The plant's discharge is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to ensure minimal environmental impact.

Askov WWTP discharges into a local stream that flows into the St. Croix River, a National Scenic Riverway, and eventually the Mississippi River. The St. Croix watershed supports diverse aquatic species, including game fish and freshwater mussels. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect this sensitive riverine ecosystem from nutrient pollution and organic loading.