Ithaca WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Ithaca, Nebraska

Ithaca WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ithaca, Nebraska, serving a small population of 133 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level for small communities in the United States under the Clean Water Act. The plant has a designed capacity of 53.00 units and processes a similar volume of wastewater daily. As a secondary treatment facility, it uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Platte River basin, a major tributary of the Missouri River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream. The plant's consistent operation helps maintain the ecological health of the region's waterways.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Platte River, which is part of the larger Missouri River basin. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds along the Central Flyway. The Platte River is ecologically significant for its role in sustaining riparian habitats and providing water for irrigation and municipal use in the Great Plains region.