Lime Springs WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Lime Springs, Iowa

Lime Springs WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lime Springs, Iowa, a small community in Howard County. The plant serves a population of approximately 496 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility under U.S. regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater plants. With a designed capacity of about 1,060 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 265 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well within its capacity. Secondary treatment removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring that effluent meets federal and state water quality standards before discharge. The treated effluent from Lime Springs WWTP is discharged into a local stream that flows into the Upper Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides recreational opportunities. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality in the Upper Iowa River and ultimately the Mississippi River basin.

Lime Springs WWTP discharges into a local watercourse that drains into the Upper Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. The Upper Iowa River is known for its scenic bluffs and cold-water fishery, supporting species such as trout. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed, reducing nutrient and organic pollutant loads that could otherwise impact downstream aquatic habitats.