Overview
CRESCO WWTP serves approximately 3,868 residents in Cresco, Iowa. The facility operates under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations for municipal wastewater treatment.
CRESCO WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Yankee Avenue in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa. It serves a population of about 3,868 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category typical of rural Midwestern communities. As a U.S. facility, the plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits based on secondary treatment standards under the Clean Water Act. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Upper Iowa River watershed, which flows southeast to the Mississippi River and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. This drainage basin supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Mississippi River ecosystem, which is ecologically significant for migratory fish and waterfowl.
Environmental context
The plant's treated wastewater enters the Upper Iowa River watershed, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River system is a major ecological corridor supporting hundreds of fish and bird species. Downstream, the river flows into the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to seasonal hypoxic zones. The plant's discharge quality is therefore important for both local stream health and downstream marine environments.
Frequently asked questions
CRESCO WWTP is located on Yankee Avenue in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa, United States.
The plant serves approximately 3,868 residents of Cresco and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Upper Iowa River watershed, which flows to the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
As a U.S. facility, CRESCO WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, setting effluent limits based on secondary treatment standards.
For small-to-medium agglomerations in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. This typically involves biological treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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