ELMDALE WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Elmdale, Kansas

ELMDALE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 598 Murphy Avenue in Elmdale, Chase County, Kansas. Serving a small population of 50, the plant provides secondary treatment to meet local sanitation needs within the rural Great Plains region. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. With a designed capacity of 37.85 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 18.93 megaliters, the facility maintains capacity for future growth. Treatment processes are managed in compliance with state and federal permit requirements. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Cottonwood River system, part of the Neosho River basin. This watershed supports agricultural irrigation and aquatic habitats in the Kansas Flint Hills region, making proper treatment essential for downstream water quality.

The plant's discharge enters the Cottonwood River watershed, which flows into the Neosho River and ultimately the Arkansas River basin. This region is part of the Kansas Flint Hills ecosystem, characterized by tallgrass prairie and diverse aquatic life. The treated effluent supports base flows in local streams, which are critical for maintaining habitat during dry periods.