Kelly Lake SD 1 STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Town of Spruce, Wisconsin

Kelly Lake SD 1 STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Spruce, Oconto County, Wisconsin. Serving a population of 1,295, this plant provides secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from the community. The facility is situated inland, approximately 50 km from Lake Michigan, and plays a key role in protecting local water quality. As a secondary treatment plant, Kelly Lake SD 1 STP meets the standard requirements under the US Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. The plant has a designed capacity of 624.59 million gallons per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 340.69 million gallons, indicating operational capacity below design levels. The facility is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent from Kelly Lake SD 1 STP is discharged into local streams that flow into the Peshtigo River watershed, ultimately reaching Green Bay and Lake Michigan. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and recreational activities, making the plant's treatment performance critical for downstream ecosystem health. The facility's inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the broader Great Lakes basin, a region of significant ecological and economic importance.

The plant discharges into local tributaries of the Peshtigo River, which flows into Green Bay and then Lake Michigan. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The area is part of the larger Great Lakes ecosystem, which is sensitive to nutrient pollution and requires effective wastewater treatment to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality.