Overview
ELY WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving Ely, Iowa, USA. It treats wastewater for a population of 1,780 with a designed capacity of 1,287.04 volume units and an average discharge of 151.42 units.
ELY WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ely, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,780 residents in this small community within Linn County. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,287.04 volume units and currently discharges an average of 151.42 volume units, indicating it operates well below its design capacity. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) of this scale are typically regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which set effluent limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other parameters. The treated effluent from ELY WWTP is discharged to a local waterway within the Mississippi River basin. The plant's location in eastern Iowa places it within the Upper Mississippi River watershed, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides important habitat for migratory birds and fish species. The Mississippi River ultimately drains to the Gulf of Mexico, making nutrient management at plants like ELY WWTP relevant to downstream water quality concerns.
Environmental context
ELY WWTP discharges into a local tributary within the Upper Mississippi River basin. The Mississippi River flows southward through the Midwest, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish species, including catfish and bass, and provides critical habitat for migratory waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway. Nutrient loading from wastewater treatment plants in the region can contribute to hypoxic conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, making effective secondary treatment important for downstream ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
ELY WWTP is located at Miller's Track in Ely, Iowa, United States, within Linn County. It serves the local community of approximately 1,780 residents.
ELY WWTP provides secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. This is the standard level required for municipal plants under the U.S. Clean Water Act.
The treated effluent from ELY WWTP is discharged into a local waterway that flows into the Upper Mississippi River basin. The plant operates under an NPDES permit that regulates effluent quality to protect receiving waters.
ELY WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all point source discharges. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources typically issues and enforces these permits, setting limits on pollutants like BOD and TSS.
For small communities of this size, secondary treatment is standard. Many such plants use activated sludge or lagoon systems. They are subject to EPA secondary treatment standards and must meet effluent limits based on the receiving water's assimilative capacity.
Nearby plants