Crystal Lake SD STP Barron - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Town of Crystal Lake, Wisconsin

Crystal Lake SD STP Barron is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Town of Crystal Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin. The facility serves a small population of 225 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Facilities of this scale in Wisconsin are typically permitted under the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity is 45.42 volume units, with a discharge volume of 45.43, indicating near-capacity operation. The treated effluent is discharged to a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Red Cedar River watershed and then to the Chippewa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. This connection to the Mississippi River basin means the plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of downstream ecosystems, including the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, an important habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Chippewa River, which joins the Mississippi River. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Upper Mississippi River basin, an ecologically significant corridor for migratory birds and fish. The area's coldwater streams are sensitive to nutrient loading, making secondary treatment important for protecting downstream water quality.