Caledonia WWTF - Wastewater Treatment Plant in Caledonia, Missouri

Caledonia WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Lovers Lane in Caledonia, Washington County, Missouri. The plant serves a small population of 130 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 75.71 cubic meters per day and an average daily discharge of 60.57 cubic meters, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a small plant in Missouri, it is subject to state-level National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway, likely a tributary of the Meramec River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the Meramec River basin, which supports diverse fish and wildlife populations.

The plant discharges into a local stream that drains into the Meramec River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Meramec River basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing habitat for sensitive species. Downstream, the Mississippi River carries the flow to the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, mitigating impacts on the receiving waters.