CIMARRON WWTP - Gray County, Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant

CIMARRON WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on County Road 18 in Gray County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,822 residents, placing it in the small agglomeration category under US regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand cubic meters and currently treats 734.37 thousand cubic meters annually, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Arkansas River basin. The Arkansas River flows through the Great Plains and eventually reaches the Mississippi River, contributing to the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The plant's operations are subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, ensuring compliance with water quality standards.

The plant discharges into the Arkansas River basin, a major tributary of the Mississippi River system. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are used for irrigation and recreation. Downstream, the Arkansas River flows through the Great Plains and into the Mississippi River, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect local water quality.