Elmwood WWTP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Elmwood, Wisconsin

Elmwood WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Elmwood, Pierce County, Wisconsin. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,015 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under US regulatory frameworks. It is situated in a rural inland area, far from coastal influences. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 355.83 million gallons per year and an actual discharge volume of 238.48 million gallons per year, the facility operates below its capacity. As a US-based plant, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under an NPDES permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that drains into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in the region's agricultural and rural landscape.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Mississippi River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a large agricultural region where nutrient management is critical to prevent downstream hypoxia. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, contributing to the health of the Mississippi River ecosystem.