Dysart Disposal Plant: Wastewater Treatment in Tama County, Iowa

The Dysart Disposal Plant is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Tama County, Iowa, United States. It serves a population of 1,303 and operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal plants of this scale. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 3,141.88 million gallons per year, with an actual discharge volume of 984.21 million gallons per year, indicating operational capacity well within design limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Iowa River basin, which ultimately flows to the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Midwest.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Iowa River, which flows southeast to join the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a major migratory route for fish and birds, and the watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.