BURCHARD WWTP - Pawnee City, Nebraska Wastewater Treatment Plant

BURCHARD WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Pawnee City, Nebraska, United States. The plant serves a small population of 82 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates as a secondary treatment facility, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 37.85 units and a similar discharge volume, indicating it operates near its capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharging treated effluent. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local water body, which ultimately flows into the Missouri River basin. This region is part of the larger Mississippi River watershed, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting local streams and rivers from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into a local waterway within the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The region's agricultural landscape means that nutrient management is critical to prevent algal blooms and hypoxia in downstream waters. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic loads and protect the ecological health of receiving streams.