Overview
Marcus WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving 1,139 people in Marcus, Iowa. It discharges 416.40 units of treated wastewater daily, with a designed capacity of 984.20 units.
Marcus WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Marcus, Cherokee County, Iowa. It serves a population of approximately 1,139 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment plant within the state's wastewater infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level required by the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this size. Its designed capacity is 984.20 units, with an actual discharge volume of 416.40 units, indicating operational headroom. The plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that ultimately drains into the Missouri River watershed, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This downstream connection underscores the plant's role in maintaining water quality in the region's river systems and supporting aquatic habitats in the broader Mississippi Basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a receiving water body within the Missouri River basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of an important migratory corridor for birds and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollutants, mitigating eutrophication risks downstream.
Frequently asked questions
Marcus WWTP is located at 230 480th Street, Marcus, Cherokee County, Iowa, United States.
Marcus WWTP serves a population of 1,139 people in the city of Marcus and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local water body that is part of the Missouri River watershed, which flows into the Mississippi River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.
Marcus WWTP operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires municipal wastewater treatment plants to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources administers these permits, setting effluent limits to protect water quality.
For small communities in the U.S., secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the Clean Water Act. This level of treatment removes approximately 85% of organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring the effluent meets water quality standards before discharge.
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