BENNET SPRING STATE PARK Wastewater Treatment Plant, Wood Hill, Missouri

BENNET SPRING STATE PARK is a wastewater treatment plant located in Wood Hill, Dallas County, Missouri, United States. It serves a small population of 140 people, typical of a state park facility in a rural setting. The plant is situated near Bennett Spring Access along MO 64. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 56.78 million gallons per day and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. As a small facility, it is likely subject to EPA NPDES permitting through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Osage River basin and then the Missouri River. This contributes to the overall water quality management of the region, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems. The plant's location inland and away from coastal areas reduces direct marine impact.

The plant discharges into the Bennett Spring branch of the Niangua River, part of the Osage River basin, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including trout populations in Bennett Spring State Park. The secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive area, which is a popular destination for fishing and recreation.