Hickory Hills South Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Johnson County, Missouri

Hickory Hills South Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located on Spirit Trail in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The plant serves a small population of 145 residents, reflecting its role as a rural or small-community treatment system within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 200.63 units and a current discharge volume of 53.00 units, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits typically issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent from Hickory Hills South Lagoon is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River watershed. This inland location, far from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact but still requires careful management to protect freshwater ecosystems and downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture. Proper secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream habitats from excessive algae growth and oxygen depletion.