La Crosse WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in La Crosse, Indiana

La Crosse WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located on Owego Street in La Crosse, Indiana, a small town in LaPorte County. The facility serves a population of approximately 579 residents and operates as part of the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. Its designed capacity is 253.62 volume units, with a similar discharge volume, indicating it operates at or near full capacity. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Kankakee River watershed, ultimately flowing into the Illinois River and then the Mississippi River. This places the plant within the larger Mississippi River Basin, which supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and provides drinking water for millions downstream. The plant's performance is critical for maintaining water quality in this interconnected system.

The plant discharges into local tributaries of the Kankakee River, which flows into the Illinois River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds and freshwater mussels. The area is part of the larger Great Lakes Basin drainage, though the plant is inland. Protecting water quality here helps maintain the ecological health of downstream rivers and the Gulf of Mexico.