Chelsea Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Chelsea, Iowa

Chelsea Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Chelsea, Tama County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 267 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It is situated at 2999 County Road E66, within the Salt Creek Township area. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 147.63 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, the plant operates near its capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. This discharge supports the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats, including streams and rivers that provide critical habitat for fish and wildlife. The advanced treatment helps protect water quality in the region's surface waters.

Chelsea Lagoon discharges into local streams that flow into the Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as catfish and bass, and provides important migratory corridors for birds. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.