MAHASKA WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Mahaska, Kansas

MAHASKA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Mahaska, a small community in Washington County, Kansas. The plant serves a population of 95, reflecting its role in a rural setting. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, the plant operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. For small communities like Mahaska, secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring compliance with federal regulations. The plant's designed capacity of 75.71 m³/day indicates it can handle peak flows, with current discharge at 37.85 m³/day. The treated effluent is discharged into a local waterway, likely a tributary of the Big Blue River or Republican River basin, which ultimately drains into the Kansas River and then the Missouri River. This watershed supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for aquatic species. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this rural region, protecting downstream ecosystems and drinking water sources.

The plant discharges into a local stream within the Republican River basin, which flows into the Kansas River and eventually the Missouri River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in a primarily rural landscape.