DENT STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

DENT STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The facility serves a small population of 192 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting within the state's extensive network of decentralized wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 124.92 units and an average daily discharge of 94.64 units, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, likely contributing to the Red River of the North basin or the Mississippi River headwaters region, given the county's location. The plant's operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintain water quality in Minnesota's lakes and rivers, which are vital for recreation and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Red River of the North or Mississippi River headwaters basin, depending on the exact drainage. This region features numerous lakes and wetlands that support diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as walleye and northern pike. The treatment plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in a landscape sensitive to eutrophication.