Overview
Great Bend WWTP serves approximately 14,959 residents in Great Bend, Kansas. The facility operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater treatment standards for municipal plants.
Great Bend WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Great Bend, Kansas, serving a population of about 14,959. The plant is situated in Barton County, in the central part of the state, and is part of the city's essential infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. As a U.S. facility, Great Bend WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and typically permitted through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. For a population of this size, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring that effluent meets federal water quality standards before discharge. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into the Arkansas River basin, which flows southeast through Kansas and ultimately into the Mississippi River system. This waterway supports regional aquatic life and agricultural uses, making proper treatment critical for maintaining downstream water quality and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
Great Bend WWTP discharges into the Arkansas River basin, part of the larger Mississippi River watershed. The Arkansas River in this region supports diverse aquatic species and is used for irrigation and recreation. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality, including the health of fish populations and riparian habitats in the central Kansas plains.
Frequently asked questions
Great Bend WWTP is located on 2nd Street in Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas, United States.
The plant serves approximately 14,959 residents in the city of Great Bend.
The treated effluent from Great Bend WWTP is discharged into the Arkansas River basin, which flows through central Kansas and eventually into the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. municipal wastewater plant, Great Bend WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act, with permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The plant must meet secondary treatment standards to protect water quality.
For a population of about 15,000, the typical treatment is secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. This is the minimum standard under the Clean Water Act for municipal plants.
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