EARVILLE STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Delaware County, Iowa

EARVILLE STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Delaware County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of approximately 900 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all wastewater discharges. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is the standard requirement to protect water quality. The plant's designed capacity of 416.39 megaliters per year indicates it has room for future growth, with current discharge volumes at 227.13 megaliters per year. The treated effluent from EARVILLE STP is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing pollutant loads from the community. Its location in the Upper Mississippi River watershed means its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of this major river system.

EARVILLE STP discharges into tributaries of the Upper Mississippi River, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically significant river system.