Galena WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Galena, Kansas

Galena WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on 11th Street in Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas. The plant serves a population of about 3,002 people, classifying it as a small community system under U.S. EPA guidelines. As a U.S. facility, Galena WWTP operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits based on the Clean Water Act. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically required to meet water quality standards for the receiving water body. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Spring River, a tributary of the Neosho River, which flows into the Arkansas River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities.

The plant discharges into a local stream that feeds the Spring River, part of the Neosho River basin. This watershed flows through the Ozark Plateau region, supporting diverse aquatic habitats including fish and mussel species. The Neosho River eventually joins the Arkansas River, which drains into the Mississippi River system, making local treatment important for downstream water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.