Overview
Holmen WWTP serves approximately 7,300 residents in Holmen, Wisconsin, as part of the village's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Black River watershed, which flows to the Mississippi River.
Holmen WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 568 2nd Avenue East in Holmen, Wisconsin, serving a population of about 7,300. The plant is situated in La Crosse County, within the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin, a region characterized by rugged topography and karst geology. As a facility serving a small agglomeration, the plant is subject to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations under the federal Clean Water Act. Treatment typically includes secondary biological processes to meet state discharge limits for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and nutrients. The plant's treated effluent discharges to the Black River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Black River flows approximately 190 miles through west-central Wisconsin before joining the Mississippi near La Crosse. This reach of the Mississippi supports diverse aquatic life, including endangered species such as the Higgins eye pearlymussel, and is an important migratory corridor for waterfowl and fish.
Environmental context
Holmen WWTP discharges into the Black River, which flows southward through Wisconsin to join the Mississippi River near La Crosse. The Mississippi River in this region is a major ecological corridor, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a critical flyway for migratory birds. The watershed includes forested bluffs, agricultural lands, and urban areas, with the river providing habitat for species such as walleye, smallmouth bass, and freshwater mussels. The plant's discharge is regulated to protect downstream water quality and aquatic life.
Frequently asked questions
Holmen WWTP is located at 568 2nd Avenue East in Holmen, Wisconsin, United States, in La Crosse County.
Holmen WWTP serves approximately 7,297 residents of Holmen, Wisconsin.
Holmen WWTP discharges treated effluent into the Black River, which flows into the Mississippi River near La Crosse.
Holmen WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Facilities of this scale are required to meet secondary treatment standards and state-specific nutrient limits.
For small agglomerations in the U.S., typical treatment includes primary sedimentation followed by secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EPA secondary treatment standards for BOD and TSS.
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