KEOTA WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Keokuk County, Iowa

KEOTA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on 210th Street in Keokuk County, Iowa, serving a population of around 1,000 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring compliance with environmental standards for small communities. With a designed capacity of 1,514.16 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 719.23 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a facility in the United States, it falls under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which regulates discharges to surface waters and sets effluent limits based on treatment technology and water quality standards. The treated effluent from KEOTA WWTP is discharged into local streams that are part of the Mississippi River basin. The Mississippi River system supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these waters from nutrient pollution and pathogens, contributing to the ecological health of the region.

KEOTA WWTP discharges into tributaries of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed is primarily agricultural, and the plant's nutrient removal helps mitigate downstream eutrophication. The Mississippi River basin supports a wide range of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds and endangered species, making water quality management critical for ecosystem health.