Freeburg West No 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Freeburg, Illinois

Freeburg West No 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Freeburg, Illinois, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,436 residents in the Freeburg area, operating as part of the local wastewater infrastructure managed by the community. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standards required by the US Clean Water Act. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal or additional filtration to meet stringent water quality goals. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,514.16 thousand cubic meters per year and currently discharges 927.43 thousand cubic meters annually, indicating operational capacity below its design limit. The treated effluent from Freeburg West No 2 is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality in the Mississippi River system, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions of people. Its inland location reduces direct marine impact.

Freeburg West No 2 discharges into tributaries of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River basin is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse fish and bird species. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for mitigating the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.