MODOC STP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Modoc, Indiana

MODOC STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Modoc, Indiana, serving a small community of 755 residents. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 170.34 volume units and currently treats a daily flow of 170.34 volume units, indicating full capacity utilization. The treatment process is secondary, which is typical for small communities in the US and meets the minimum federal requirement for municipal wastewater treatment. It is assumed to be active given the reported discharge volume. The treated effluent from MODOC STP is discharged into a local water body, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River Basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the local watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems by reducing nutrient and pathogen loads. Its location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces the risk of direct marine impacts.

MODOC STP discharges into a local stream that is part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, which flows into the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient pollution, which is a key concern in the Mississippi River Basin due to its contribution to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and agriculture.