McFarland WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in McFarland, Kansas

McFarland WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located on Fairfield Road in McFarland, Wabaunsee County, Kansas. The plant serves a small population of 271 residents, reflecting the rural character of the community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal plants of this scale. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 117.35 units and an average discharge volume of 102.21 units, the facility operates near its capacity. The plant is permitted through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Kansas River basin, ultimately reaching the Missouri River and the Mississippi River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant's performance is critical for protecting water quality in this rural region.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Kansas River, which flows into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and is used for irrigation and recreation. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and oxygen depletion.