BURT STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kossuth County, Iowa

BURT STL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 575 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. For small secondary plants like BURT STL, typical permit limits include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and pH. The plant's designed capacity of 435.32 volume units and current discharge volume of 355.83 volume units indicate it is operating below capacity. The treated effluent from BURT STL is discharged into local waterways within the Upper Mississippi River Basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in the Mississippi River system, which ultimately drains to the Gulf of Mexico.

BURT STL discharges into tributaries of the Upper Mississippi River, which flows through the Midwest before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed is primarily agricultural, with runoff contributing nutrients and sediments. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, supporting aquatic ecosystems in the river system. The Mississippi River is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds, and maintaining water quality is essential for ecological health.