KENSETT WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Kensett, Iowa

KENSETT WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Kensett, Worth County, Iowa. Serving a population of around 600, the plant provides secondary treatment to domestic wastewater from the small rural community. The plant's designed capacity matches its discharge volume at 113.56 million gallons per year, indicating consistent operation at full capacity. As a secondary treatment facility, KENSETT WWTP meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The plant is regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent from KENSETT WWTP is discharged into local streams that are part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin. These waters eventually flow into the Mississippi River, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing recreational and ecological benefits downstream. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality in the rural agricultural landscape of northern Iowa.

KENSETT WWTP discharges into small tributaries of the Winnebago River, which flows into the Shell Rock River, a tributary of the Cedar River, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is important for regional water quality. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and organic pollution, protecting downstream ecosystems in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.