Cambridge WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Burden, Kansas

Cambridge WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Burden, Kansas, United States. It serves a small population of 99 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is situated in Cowley County, near US 160, and operates as part of the local infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 56.78 units, and it currently discharges 37.85 units, indicating operational capacity below design levels. As a US facility, it operates under an EPA NPDES permit issued by the state of Kansas, ensuring compliance with discharge limits. The treated effluent from Cambridge WWTP is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Arkansas River basin. This region is part of the larger Mississippi River watershed, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the local hydrology and supports downstream aquatic ecosystems, including fish and wildlife habitats.

The plant's discharge enters a tributary of the Arkansas River, which flows through Kansas and Oklahoma before joining the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and recreation. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this inland basin, reducing nutrient and pollutant loads that could affect downstream ecosystems.