KNOXVILLE WWTF - Marion County, Iowa Wastewater Treatment Plant

KNOXVILLE WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Knoxville Township, Marion County, Iowa. Serving a population of about 7,731, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. As a small-to-medium agglomeration, it plays a key role in protecting public health and the environment in this part of the state. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all wastewater discharges. For facilities of this scale, secondary treatment is typically mandated to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources oversees permitting and compliance to ensure the plant meets state and federal water quality standards. The treated effluent from KNOXVILLE WWTF is discharged into a receiving water body that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. Proper treatment at this facility helps maintain the ecological health of local streams and rivers.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Des Moines River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is important for regional agriculture and recreation. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in a basin that faces challenges from nutrient runoff and sedimentation.