Overview
Ireton WWTP is a secondary treatment facility serving 597 residents in Ireton, Iowa. The plant has a designed capacity of 492.10 m³/day and discharges 189.27 m³/day of treated wastewater.
Ireton WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ireton, Sioux County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 597 residents, reflecting the rural character of the community. It operates as a secondary treatment plant, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment. The plant has a designed capacity of 492.10 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 189.27 m³/day of treated effluent. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), facilities of this scale are typically permitted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with requirements for effluent limits on biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other parameters to protect water quality. The treated wastewater from Ireton WWTP is discharged into a local water body that is part of the Missouri River basin. The Missouri River flows into the Mississippi River, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall nutrient load in the basin, which is a concern for downstream water quality and the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.
Environmental context
The Ireton WWTP discharges into a tributary of the Big Sioux River, which flows into the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River, draining into the Gulf of Mexico. The region is part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, which is ecologically significant for its diverse aquatic habitats and migratory bird routes. Nutrient management is critical in this watershed due to its contribution to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, a large area of low oxygen that affects marine life.
Frequently asked questions
Ireton WWTP is located on La Salle Street in Ireton, Sioux County, Iowa, United States.
The plant serves a population of 597 residents in the community of Ireton, Iowa.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local water body that is part of the Missouri River basin, which flows to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
Ireton WWTP provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater treatment plants.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and is likely permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality.
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