Chautauqua WWTP - Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant Serving Chautauqua County

Chautauqua WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Chautauqua County, Kansas, United States. It serves a small population of 113 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated on Cowboy Road and is part of the local infrastructure managed by the county. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal plants. With a designed capacity of 98.42 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 37.85 million gallons per year, the plant operates well below its capacity. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), the plant must meet effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Verdigris River basin, which flows into the Arkansas River and then the Mississippi River. This inland location is far from coastal areas, reducing direct marine impact. The plant plays a key role in protecting local streams and groundwater from untreated sewage.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Verdigris River, which flows through southeastern Kansas into Oklahoma. The Verdigris River joins the Arkansas River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, protecting downstream ecosystems in the Arkansas River basin.