IONIA WWTP - Ionia, Missouri Wastewater Treatment Plant

IONIA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ionia, Benton County, Missouri, United States. The facility serves a small population of 92 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 75.71 and an average discharge volume of 34.07, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The plant's discharge is managed through a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Missouri River watershed. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities. The plant's location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the regional basin.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports agricultural and natural habitats, and the plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality. The area is inland, so marine impact is minimal, but maintaining low nutrient levels is important to prevent eutrophication in receiving waters.