BARABOO STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Baraboo, Wisconsin

BARABOO STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, serving a population of about 12,444. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges to surface waters. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment under federal regulations. Typical facilities of this scale employ biological treatment followed by disinfection before discharge. The treated effluent from BARABOO STP is discharged into receiving waters that ultimately flow into the Wisconsin River and then the Mississippi River. This contributes to the overall water quality management of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor.

The plant discharges into local streams that drain into the Wisconsin River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The downstream environment includes the Upper Mississippi River, which supports a diverse range of fish and wildlife species. The region's watershed is ecologically sensitive, with wetlands and floodplains that provide critical habitat and water filtration services.