GYPSUM WWTP - Saline County, Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant

GYPSUM WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Saline County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 414 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet local environmental standards. Its location in the central Great Plains region places it within a rural agricultural landscape. The plant operates with a designed capacity of 155.20 units and treats a corresponding daily flow, reflecting its scale for a small community. Under the US Clean Water Act, facilities of this size are typically permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Secondary treatment is the standard requirement for municipal plants, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Kansas River basin, part of the larger Mississippi River watershed. This system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal use downstream. The plant's operations help protect water quality in the region's streams and rivers.

The plant's discharge enters local streams that flow into the Smoky Hill River, a tributary of the Kansas River, which joins the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a mix of agricultural and natural habitats, including fish species such as channel catfish and largemouth bass. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecosystem health and downstream water supplies.