Gerald East Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Franklin County, Missouri

Gerald East Lagoon is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Franklin County, Missouri, serving a small population of 457 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States. The plant has a designed capacity of 405.04 volume units and a discharge volume of 211.98, indicating it operates below its capacity. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Meramec River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational opportunities. The plant's inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall health of the Meramec River basin.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Meramec River, which eventually joins the Mississippi River. The Meramec River basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse fish and invertebrate populations. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect water quality in this inland watershed, though nutrient removal is limited compared to advanced treatment.