DAHLGREN STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Dahlgren, Illinois

DAHLGREN STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Dahlgren, Illinois, United States. It serves a small community of approximately 514 residents, reflecting its role as a local facility for the town and surrounding area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 189.27 volume units, the facility operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. This regulatory framework ensures that discharges meet water quality standards to protect public health and the environment. The treated effluent from DAHLGREN STP is discharged into local waterways, contributing to the watershed of the Little Wabash River basin. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Mississippi River drainage system, ultimately flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in the local streams and downstream ecosystems.

DAHLGREN STP discharges into the Little Wabash River basin, a tributary of the Wabash River, which flows into the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports a variety of aquatic species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically important river system.