Lecompton WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Lecompton, Kansas

Lecompton WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lecompton, Kansas, a small community in Douglas County. The plant serves a population of approximately 540 residents, reflecting its role as a small-scale treatment facility for the local area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 268.76 volume units and an average discharge of 204.41 volume units, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. As a U.S. plant, it operates under an EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The treated effluent from Lecompton WWTP is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Kansas River, a major tributary of the Missouri River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses downstream. The plant's location inland, away from coastal zones, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall health of the Kansas River watershed.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Kansas River, which then joins the Missouri River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The Kansas River basin is ecologically sensitive due to agricultural runoff and urban development, making proper wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality.