ELLSINORE WWTP - Ellsinore, Missouri Wastewater Treatment Plant

ELLSINORE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ellsinore, Carter County, Missouri. It serves a small population of 446 residents, providing essential sanitation services for the community. The plant is situated in the Ozark region, an area characterized by forested hills and karst topography. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 151.42 megaliters per year and an actual discharge volume of 136.28 megaliters per year, the plant operates below its capacity. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), plants of this scale are permitted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to ensure compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from ELLSINORE WWTP is discharged into local streams that are part of the Black River watershed, which ultimately flows into the White River and then the Mississippi River. This drainage network supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities. The plant's operation helps protect the ecological health of these waterways from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

ELLSINORE WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Black River, which flows into the White River and eventually the Mississippi River. The receiving waters support a variety of fish and macroinvertebrate species, and the region's karst geology makes groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination. Proper treatment is essential to protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and drinking water sources.