Madison WWTP, Monroe County, Missouri - Secondary Treatment Plant

Madison WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Monroe County, Missouri, along US 24. It serves a small community of approximately 567 residents, reflecting its role in rural wastewater management. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges to protect water quality. The facility provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 302.83 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 151.42 cubic meters per day, the plant operates at about half its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a US facility, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Missouri River watershed, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. This inland location, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's surface water quality and supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into small tributaries of the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This inland watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply and recreation. The secondary treatment process helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream water bodies.