Cortland WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Gage County, Nebraska

Cortland WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Gage County, Nebraska, serving a small community of approximately 382 residents. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for all point source discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations in the United States. With a designed capacity of 227.12 megaliters per year and an actual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters per year, the facility operates below its design capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural water use downstream. The plant's inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the regional river system.

The plant discharges into the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a mix of agricultural and natural habitats, including wetlands and riparian zones that provide critical ecosystem services. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to protect downstream water quality for aquatic life and recreational use.