Cherokee WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Crawford County, Kansas

Cherokee WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 722 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet state and federal water quality standards. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 295.26 units and a daily discharge volume of 272.55 units, the facility operates within its capacity. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Neosho River basin, ultimately contributing to the Arkansas River system. This inland plant supports the protection of regional water quality and aquatic habitats in southeastern Kansas.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Neosho River, which flows through the Arkansas River basin before reaching the Mississippi River. This inland watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply. The secondary treatment process helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and oxygen depletion.