Heart of the Valley MSD Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Heart of the Valley MSD is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, serving a population of about 46,388. The facility is situated on West Thilmany Road near the Fox River, which flows through the region and ultimately drains into Lake Michigan. As a medium-sized agglomeration in the United States, the plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary or advanced treatment to meet permit limits. The designed capacity is reported as 1.00 (likely million gallons per day), indicating a facility sized for the community's needs. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Fox River, a major waterway in northeastern Wisconsin. The Fox River flows north into Green Bay, an arm of Lake Michigan, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational uses. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Fox River and downstream Lake Michigan ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Fox River, which flows approximately 200 miles northward through Wisconsin to Green Bay on Lake Michigan. The Fox River watershed supports a variety of fish species, including walleye and smallmouth bass, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Downstream, Green Bay is a freshwater estuary that provides critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Protecting water quality in this system is essential for maintaining ecological health and recreational opportunities.