BEACON STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Beacon, Iowa

BEACON STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Beacon, Iowa, within Mahaska County. The plant serves a small community of 509 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is typical for smaller agglomerations in the United States. The plant's designed capacity is 696.51 units, and it treats an average daily flow of 696.52 units, indicating near-full utilization. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the US Clean Water Act requirements for removing organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Des Moines River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. This contributes to the overall water quality management in the Mississippi River Basin.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse within the Mississippi River Basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The receiving water body supports aquatic life and is part of a larger watershed that experiences seasonal variations in flow. Downstream ecosystems include wetlands and floodplains that provide habitat for migratory birds and fish species.