Mineral Point STP, Mineral Point

Overview

Mineral Point STP serves approximately 2,636 residents in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The facility operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act and NPDES permit program.

Mineral Point STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Serving a population of about 2,636, the plant is part of the city's essential infrastructure for managing domestic wastewater. As a small-scale facility in the United States, the plant is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Such permits set effluent limits to protect water quality. Plants of this size typically employ secondary treatment to meet regulatory standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that drains into the Upper Mississippi River basin, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a role in protecting local streams and the broader watershed from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River system, which flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory birds. The region's karst geology can make groundwater vulnerable to contamination, highlighting the need for effective wastewater treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Mineral Point STP is located in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin, United States.

The plant serves approximately 2,636 residents in the city of Mineral Point.

The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body that is part of the Upper Mississippi River basin, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

The plant operates under the Clean Water Act and is required to have an NPDES permit issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which sets limits on pollutants to protect water quality.

Small municipal plants in the U.S. typically use secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to meet EPA standards for biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids.