GASCONADE WWTP - Morrison, Missouri Wastewater Treatment Plant

GASCONADE WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Morrison, Gasconade County, Missouri. The plant serves a small population of 223 residents and operates under secondary treatment standards, which is the minimum required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. The facility is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and its treated effluent is discharged into local waterways. The plant's designed capacity is 189.27 thousand gallons per day, with an actual discharge volume of 75.71 thousand gallons per day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which set limits on effluent quality to protect receiving waters. The treated wastewater from GASCONADE WWTP ultimately flows into the Missouri River watershed, which drains into the Mississippi River and then to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge supports the ecological health of local streams and rivers, contributing to the overall water quality in the region. The small population served means the plant's environmental footprint is relatively modest, but proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect aquatic life.

GASCONADE WWTP discharges into the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality and minimizing impacts on the sensitive Gulf ecosystem, which is vulnerable to nutrient-driven hypoxia.