AURELIA WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Aurelia, Iowa

AURELIA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Aurelia, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small community of approximately 1,026 residents, providing essential sanitation services for the town. As a secondary treatment plant, 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 757.08 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 378.54 cubic meters per day of treated effluent. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The facility operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Missouri River basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the region. Its location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impacts but still requires careful management to prevent nutrient pollution in freshwater systems.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Missouri River watershed, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This region is part of the larger Mississippi River basin, known for its agricultural runoff and nutrient loading issues. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, contributing to the overall health of downstream aquatic habitats and supporting diverse freshwater species.