Fountain City WWTP: Secondary Treatment Plant in Wisconsin, USA

Fountain City WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Fountain City, Wisconsin, along the Mississippi River. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,020 residents, providing essential sanitation services to this rural area in Buffalo County. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is the standard requirement under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 813.86 units and an average daily discharge of 586.74 units, the plant maintains a utilization rate that allows for future growth. As a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated effluent from Fountain City WWTP is discharged into the Mississippi River, one of the largest river systems in North America. The plant plays a critical role in protecting the river's water quality and the downstream ecosystems, including the Gulf of Mexico, by removing pollutants before discharge. Its location in the Upper Mississippi River basin means it contributes to the health of a major migratory corridor and supports diverse aquatic life.

The treated effluent from Fountain City WWTP enters the Mississippi River, which flows southward to the Gulf of Mexico. This stretch of the river supports diverse aquatic species, including freshwater mussels and migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is important for mitigating hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.