JEWELL STL, Jewell Junction

Overview

JEWELL STL is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Jewell Junction, Iowa, serving approximately 1,215 people. It discharges treated effluent into local waterways under US EPA NPDES regulations.

JEWELL STL is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Jewell Junction, Hamilton County, Iowa. The plant serves a small community of around 1,215 residents and 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 biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 681.37 thousand cubic meters per year and an average discharge volume of 643.52 thousand cubic meters per year, the facility operates near its design capacity, reflecting consistent demand from the local population. Treated effluent from JEWELL STL is discharged into nearby surface waters that drain into the Iowa River basin, eventually reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality in the agricultural landscape of north-central Iowa, where nutrient management is a critical environmental concern.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The downstream environment includes agricultural watersheds where nutrient loading from wastewater and farm runoff can affect water quality. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, supporting aquatic life in receiving waters.

Frequently asked questions

JEWELL STL is located in Jewell Junction, Hamilton County, Iowa, United States, near South Hamilton Middle/High School on Blaine Street.

The plant serves approximately 1,215 residents in the Jewell Junction area.

Treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters that drain into the Iowa River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River.

The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater plants to remove biodegradable organics and suspended solids.

As a US municipal plant, JEWELL STL operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets discharge limits and monitoring requirements to protect water quality.