Glidden WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Glidden, Iowa

Glidden WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Glidden, Iowa, serving a population of about 1,253. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level for small communities in the United States under the Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,135.62 million gallons per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 529.96 million gallons, operating well within its capacity. As a publicly owned treatment works (POTW), it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the North Raccoon River, a tributary of the Des Moines River, which ultimately flows to the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for downstream communities, making the plant's performance critical for regional environmental health.

Glidden WWTP discharges into the North Raccoon River watershed, which flows into the Des Moines River and then the Mississippi River. The receiving waters support a variety of fish and macroinvertebrate species and are used for recreation and drinking water supply. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality in the Mississippi River Basin.