LEE HEIGHTS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shaw, Missouri

The LEE HEIGHTS wastewater treatment plant is located in Shaw, Boone County, Missouri, serving a small population of 36. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the United States. Its designed capacity is 18.93 megaliters, with an annual discharge volume of 15.14 megaliters. As a US plant, LEE HEIGHTS operates under the Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges. Secondary treatment is the minimum requirement for municipal wastewater, ensuring removal of biodegradable organics and suspended solids. The plant's small scale aligns with typical infrastructure for rural areas. The plant discharges into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River watershed. The Missouri River flows into the Mississippi River, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for communities downstream. Proper treatment helps protect these ecosystems from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant's treated effluent enters local streams within the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including migratory birds. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping maintain water quality in downstream habitats.