HIGGINSVILLE I 70 N Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Higginsville, Missouri

HIGGINSVILLE I 70 N Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located on Grange Road in Higginsville, Lafayette County, Missouri. The plant serves a small population of 102 residents, reflecting its role as a rural community treatment system. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 87.06 million gallons and an annual discharge volume of 37.85 million gallons, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The treatment process uses a lagoon system, a common approach for small communities due to its low energy and maintenance requirements. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or creek within the Missouri River basin. The Missouri River ultimately drains into the Mississippi River, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. This downstream connection means the plant's discharge contributes to the water quality of these major river systems, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a local water body within the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports diverse aquatic habitats, including fish spawning grounds and migratory bird corridors. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality by reducing nutrient loads that could contribute to algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.