MAYNARD STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Maynard, Minnesota

MAYNARD STP serves the small community of Maynard in Chippewa County, Minnesota, treating municipal wastewater for approximately 362 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small agglomerations under the U.S. Clean Water Act. With a designed capacity of 280.12 units and an average discharge volume of 196.84 units, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a facility in the Upper Midwest, it must comply with EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which set effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent enters a local watercourse that flows into the Minnesota River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This downstream connection places the plant within the larger Mississippi River Basin, supporting aquatic ecosystems and regional water quality. The plant's inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the health of the river system.

The plant discharges into a local stream that drains to the Minnesota River, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The Minnesota River watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, which is critical for mitigating hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.