Cedar Bluffs STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nebraska

Cedar Bluffs STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Cedar Bluffs, Saunders County, Nebraska. The plant serves a small population of 585 residents, reflecting the rural character of the community. It operates as a secondary treatment plant, which is the standard level for small agglomerations under the US Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 264.98 m³/day and currently discharges 189.27 m³/day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, administered by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local watercourse that drains into the Platte River basin. The Platte River is a major tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintain water quality in the Platte River watershed.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Platte River, which flows through central Nebraska and joins the Missouri River near Plattsmouth. The Platte River is a critical habitat for migratory birds, including sandhill cranes, and supports diverse aquatic life. Downstream, the Missouri River feeds into the Mississippi River system, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect these downstream environments.