Bucklin East WWTP - Linn County, Missouri Wastewater Treatment Plant

Bucklin East WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Linn County, Missouri, United States. The plant serves a small population of 456 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. It has a designed capacity of 246.05 million gallons per year and currently discharges 170.34 million gallons annually. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Missouri River basin. The plant's location inland, far from coastal waters, means its discharge contributes to freshwater ecosystems. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, and the plant helps protect local water quality by reducing pollutant loads before discharge.

The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Missouri River watershed, which ultimately flows into the Mississippi River and then the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for aquatic species. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and organic pollution, which is important for downstream water quality and the prevention of hypoxic zones in the Gulf.