LAKE WAB I D WWTP - Wabaunsee County, Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant

LAKE WAB I D WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 300 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 113.56 volume units, with an average daily discharge of 68.14 volume units, indicating operational headroom. As a small facility, it is subject to state-level oversight by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which ensures compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Kansas River basin, ultimately reaching the Missouri River and the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture downstream. The plant's location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact but requires careful management to protect freshwater ecosystems.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Kansas River, which flows into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife species, including migratory birds along the Central Flyway. The region's agricultural landscape means that nutrient management from wastewater is important to prevent downstream eutrophication in reservoirs and the Gulf hypoxic zone.