Littlefork WWTP - Lake Benton, Minnesota Wastewater Treatment Plant

Littlefork WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Lake Benton, Minnesota, serving a small population of 640 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States, ensuring effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. With a designed capacity of 314.19 million gallons per year and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. As a US facility, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. Secondary treatment is the minimum required for municipal plants under federal regulations. The plant discharges into local waterways that drain into the Mississippi River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Its operations help protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and support water quality in the region's agricultural landscape.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Mississippi River basin, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. The region's agricultural land use means the plant's nutrient removal helps reduce downstream eutrophication risks.