Overview
LA BELLE NW WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving 660 people in La Belle, Missouri. It discharges 227.13 megaliters of treated wastewater annually, operating under US Clean Water Act regulations.
LA BELLE NW WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in La Belle, Lewis County, Missouri. The plant serves a small population of 660 residents, providing secondary treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. The plant has a designed capacity of 586.74 megaliters and currently discharges 227.13 megaliters per year, indicating it operates well below capacity. As a US facility, it falls under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program established by the Clean Water Act, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment plants of this scale. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant's inland location, over 50 km from the coast, means its discharge contributes to freshwater systems rather than marine environments. Proper treatment helps protect downstream aquatic habitats and water quality in the region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into tributaries of the Mississippi River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish and birds. The secondary treatment process reduces nutrient loads, helping to mitigate downstream eutrophication risks in the Gulf of Mexico's hypoxic zone.
Frequently asked questions
LA BELLE NW WWTP is located on 116th Avenue in La Belle, Lewis County, Missouri, United States.
The plant serves a population of 660 residents in the La Belle area.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local waterways that are part of the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
As a US facility, LA BELLE NW WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the state of Missouri.
For small communities in the US, secondary treatment is standard under the Clean Water Act, which requires removal of at least 85% of biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids.
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