DOUDS_LEANDO WWS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Van Buren County, Iowa

DOUDS_LEANDO WWS is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Emerald Road in Van Buren County, Iowa. Serving a small population of 335, the plant provides secondary treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. Its designed capacity is 87.06 volume units, with an average daily discharge of 53.00 units, indicating operational headroom. As a secondary treatment plant, DOUDS_LEANDO WWS meets the minimum federal standards under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities. The plant operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits that protect water quality. The treated effluent from DOUDS_LEANDO WWS is discharged into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. This region is part of the Upper Mississippi River watershed, a vital ecological corridor supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall health of the downstream environment by reducing pollutant loads.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Des Moines River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin is a major ecological system supporting diverse fish, mussel, and bird species. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this agriculturally intensive region.