Galva Southwest STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Galva, Illinois

Galva Southwest STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Galva, Illinois, serving a population of about 1,450. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States, ensuring compliance with Clean Water Act requirements. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 567.81 cubic meters per day, indicating operational capacity well within design limits. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and suspended solids through biological processes, meeting EPA effluent guidelines for small to medium agglomerations. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in the Illinois River watershed, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses in the region.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Illinois River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. Protecting water quality in this basin helps maintain ecological balance in the larger Mississippi River system.