Benton WWTP and Collection System - Franklin County, Illinois Wastewater Treatment

Benton WWTP and Collection System is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Grove Road in Franklin County, Illinois, serving a population of around 7,087 residents. The plant is part of the community's essential infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. As a facility in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all discharges. For a plant serving this population size, secondary treatment is typically mandated to meet effluent standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local streams that flow into the Big Muddy River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities and ecosystems.

The plant discharges into local waterways that drain into the Big Muddy River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse fish, bird, and plant species. The region's watershed is important for flood control and water quality, and the plant's treatment helps protect downstream habitats.