Overview
Kanopolis WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving 514 people in Kanopolis, Kansas. It discharges 193.06 megaliters of treated wastewater annually, operating under U.S. EPA NPDES regulations.
Kanopolis WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on 18th Road in Kanopolis, Ellsworth County, Kansas. It serves a small population of 514 residents, typical of rural communities in the central United States. The plant provides secondary treatment, the minimum standard required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. Its designed capacity is 378.54 megaliters, with an annual discharge volume of 193.06 megaliters, indicating operational headroom. As a U.S. facility, it operates under an EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Smoky Hill River, part of the Kansas River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Smoky Hill River, which flows into the Kansas River and then the Missouri-Mississippi system, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Central Great Plains ecoregion. Downstream water bodies are sensitive to nutrient loading, making secondary treatment important for preventing eutrophication and protecting fish habitats.
Frequently asked questions
Kanopolis WWTP is located on 18th Road in Kanopolis, Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States.
The plant serves a population of 514 people, typical of a small rural community in Kansas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local waterway that flows into the Smoky Hill River, part of the Kansas River basin.
As a U.S. facility, Kanopolis WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated via an EPA NPDES permit, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
Small plants like Kanopolis typically provide secondary treatment, which is the minimum federal standard for municipal wastewater under the Clean Water Act.
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