KOSSUTH SD 2 STP - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Town of Kossuth, Wisconsin

KOSSUTH SD 2 STP serves the small community of Town of Kossuth in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. The plant provides advanced treatment for a population of 207, with a designed capacity of 68.14 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 37.85 megaliters. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loads to sensitive water bodies. The plant's discharge likely reaches Lake Michigan via local streams or the Devils River. Lake Michigan is a vital freshwater resource supporting drinking water, recreation, and diverse aquatic life. The plant's proximity to the coast underscores the importance of its advanced treatment in protecting the lake's ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan basin, one of the largest freshwater systems in the world. Lake Michigan supports a complex food web, including native fish species and migratory birds. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient pollution, which can cause algal blooms and hypoxia in nearshore areas. The watershed includes agricultural and urban runoff, making the plant's role in reducing nutrient loads critical for maintaining water quality.