Lake Tomahawk SD 1 STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Town of Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin

Lake Tomahawk SD 1 STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Town of Lake Tomahawk, Oneida County, Wisconsin. The plant serves a small population of 610 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community within the Northwoods region. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for all publicly owned treatment works. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 185.48 megaliters per year and an actual discharge volume of 151.42 megaliters per year, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The plant is not located near the coast, reducing direct marine discharge risks. The treated effluent is discharged into local surface waters, likely tributaries of the Wisconsin River basin, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding area features numerous lakes and forests, supporting diverse aquatic life and recreational activities. The plant's operations help protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Wisconsin River watershed, part of the larger Mississippi River basin. This inland system supports diverse fish populations and provides habitat for migratory birds. The region's many lakes and wetlands are ecologically sensitive, and the plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading that could otherwise contribute to algal blooms and oxygen depletion downstream.