Overview
DECORAH WWTP serves Freeport, Iowa, treating municipal wastewater for approximately 8,263 residents. The plant discharges into local waterways under U.S. Clean Water Act regulations.
DECORAH WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 2491 River Road in Freeport, Iowa, within Winneshiek County. The plant serves a population of approximately 8,263 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under U.S. regulatory frameworks. As a U.S. facility, DECORAH WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment processes to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements, ensuring effluent quality protects receiving waters. The plant discharges into the Upper Iowa River watershed, which flows southeast to the Mississippi River and ultimately to the Gulf of Mexico. The Upper Iowa River supports diverse aquatic life and is a popular destination for canoeing and fishing, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
DECORAH WWTP discharges into the Upper Iowa River watershed, a tributary of the Mississippi River that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The Upper Iowa River is a coldwater stream supporting trout populations and diverse macroinvertebrate communities. The plant's treatment performance directly affects downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, which is part of the Driftless Area known for its unique geology and biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
DECORAH WWTP is located at 2491 River Road in Freeport, Iowa, within Winneshiek County, United States.
DECORAH WWTP serves approximately 8,263 residents in the Freeport and Decorah Township area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Upper Iowa River watershed, which flows to the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
DECORAH WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Facilities of this size typically require secondary treatment and NPDES permit compliance.
Plants serving around 8,000 people in the U.S. generally employ secondary treatment processes, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EPA effluent guidelines and protect receiving water bodies.
Nearby plants