KEYES WWT Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cimarron County, Oklahoma

KEYES WWT is a wastewater treatment facility located in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, serving a small community of 410 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges to protect water quality. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 189.27 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters, the facility operates well within its capacity, indicating reliable treatment for the local population. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Arkansas River basin. This region is part of the Great Plains, where water resources are critical for agriculture and ecosystems. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this semi-arid environment.

The plant discharges into the Arkansas River basin, which flows through Oklahoma and into the Mississippi River system, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for native fish and bird species. Protecting water quality in this region is essential for maintaining the ecological balance of the Great Plains.