Henderson WWTP - Secondary Treatment Facility in York County, Nebraska

The Henderson Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is located in York County, Nebraska, United States. It serves a small community of approximately 1,123 people, providing essential wastewater treatment for the area. The plant is situated in a rural agricultural region, typical of the Great Plains. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 492.10 volume units and currently discharges 302.83 volume units, indicating it operates below its maximum capacity. As a U.S. facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Henderson WWTP is discharged into local streams that are part of the Platte River watershed. The Platte River flows eastward to join the Missouri River, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the base flow of these water bodies, supporting aquatic life and downstream water users.

The Henderson WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Platte River, a major river in Nebraska that flows through the Great Plains. The Platte River is an important migratory corridor for sandhill cranes and other waterfowl. The plant's effluent contributes to the river's flow, especially during dry periods, and must meet state water quality standards to protect aquatic ecosystems and downstream uses.