Brownsville WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Brownsville Township, Minnesota

Brownsville WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Brownsville Township, Houston County, Minnesota. The plant serves a small population of 456 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for all publicly owned treatment works. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity matches the current discharge volume of 208.20 units, indicating full utilization. As a small facility, it is subject to EPA NPDES permitting administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in the Upper Mississippi River region, which supports diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. Its inland location reduces direct marine impact.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Mississippi River, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Upper Mississippi River watershed supports diverse fish and wildlife habitats, including important migratory bird corridors. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically significant river system.