Clearwater WWTP - Antelope County, Nebraska Wastewater Treatment Plant

Clearwater WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Antelope County, Nebraska, United States. It serves a small population of approximately 437 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is situated near Highway 275 and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure. 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 189.27 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated wastewater is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Elkhorn River basin, ultimately reaching the Missouri River and the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these water bodies from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

Clearwater WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Elkhorn River, which flows into the Platte River and then the Missouri River, part of the vast Mississippi River basin. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping maintain water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.