Morton STP 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Morton, Illinois

Morton STP 2 is a wastewater treatment facility located at 2574 South Fourth Avenue in Morton, Illinois, serving a population of about 10,269 residents. The plant is part of the municipal infrastructure for Tazewell County and handles wastewater from the local community. As a US-based plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, Morton STP 2 operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which is authorized by the Clean Water Act. This regulatory framework requires treatment plants to meet effluent limits designed to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Illinois River basin. The Illinois River flows into the Mississippi River, contributing to the larger Mississippi River watershed. This system supports diverse aquatic life and provides important ecological services, including nutrient cycling and habitat for fish and migratory birds.

The treated effluent from Morton STP 2 enters a local waterway that flows into the Illinois River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The Illinois River watershed supports a variety of aquatic species and is an important migratory corridor for waterfowl. Downstream, the Mississippi River carries nutrients and pollutants to the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's discharge quality is therefore relevant to both local stream health and broader downstream ecological conditions.