ELMORE STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Elmore, Minnesota

ELMORE STP is a wastewater treatment plant located in Elmore, Minnesota, serving a small population of 689 residents. The plant is situated in Faribault County and operates as part of the municipal infrastructure for the community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 476.96 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 359.61 million gallons per year, the plant operates below its capacity. US plants of this scale are typically regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The plant's location inland, over 50 km from the coast, means its discharge contributes to freshwater systems rather than marine environments. The surrounding area is primarily agricultural, and the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality.

ELMORE STP discharges into a local water body that is part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The treated effluent eventually flows into the Mississippi River, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, which is critical for mitigating downstream hypoxia in the Gulf.