Hunnewell WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Hunnewell, Missouri

Hunnewell WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on County Road 490 in Hunnewell, Shelby County, Missouri. The plant serves a small population of 184 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal plants discharging to surface waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 105.99 thousand gallons per day and an actual discharge volume of 64.35 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. This level of treatment meets the minimum requirements for most inland plants under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. The plant's location in inland Missouri means its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the region's rivers and streams, supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Salt River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical migratory corridor for fish and birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically significant watershed.