Burlington WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Coffey County, Kansas

Burlington WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Coffey County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a population of 2,285 and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the minimum required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Its designed capacity is 2,271.24 thousand gallons per day, with an average discharge volume of 870.65 thousand gallons per day, indicating it operates well below capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, Burlington WWTP uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the typical effluent quality standards for inland facilities. The plant is regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets discharge limits to protect water quality. Facilities of this scale in Kansas are subject to state and federal oversight. The treated effluent from Burlington WWTP is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Neosho River basin, part of the Arkansas River watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses. The plant's inland location and secondary treatment help minimize environmental impact on downstream ecosystems.

Burlington WWTP discharges into a tributary of the Neosho River, which flows into the Arkansas River and eventually reaches the Mississippi River system. The Neosho River basin supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including several species of freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting water quality in this agriculturally important watershed.