LEHIGH WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Lehigh, Iowa

LEHIGH WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Lehigh, Webster County, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 536 residents, providing essential sanitation services to this rural community. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is the standard requirement under the US Clean Water Act for facilities of this scale. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring the effluent meets federal and state water quality standards before discharge. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local water body, ultimately contributing to the Des Moines River basin. This river system flows through central Iowa and supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as channel catfish and walleye. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in the Mississippi River watershed.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Des Moines River, which flows southeast through Iowa and joins the Mississippi River near Keokuk. The Des Moines River basin supports a variety of fish and wildlife, including freshwater mussels and migratory birds. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, so the plant's nutrient removal helps reduce the risk of algal blooms in downstream waters.