Kinross Russ Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kinross, Iowa

Kinross Russ is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Kinross, Iowa, a small community in Keokuk County. The plant serves a population of 73 and operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 30.28 cubic meters per day, matching the reported discharge volume, indicating consistent operation at full capacity. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level NPDES permitting administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway that drains into the Iowa River basin, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River. This contributes to the overall water quality management of the region, supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Iowa River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a major ecological corridor supporting diverse fish and bird species. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect local water quality in this agriculturally intensive region, reducing nutrient and organic loads that could otherwise contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.