Linwood WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Linwood, Kansas

Linwood WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Linwood, Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of 356 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, governs the plant's discharge limits and monitoring requirements. The plant's designed capacity is 215.77 megaliters, with an actual discharge volume of 136.28 megaliters, indicating operational capacity below design levels. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Missouri River watershed. The Missouri River flows eastward to join the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality of this major river system, supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems and recreational uses.

The Linwood WWTP discharges into a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri River watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as catfish and sturgeon, and provides habitat for migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.