MOUNDS STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mounds, Illinois

MOUNDS STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Mounds, Illinois, a small community in Pulaski County. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,550 residents, reflecting its role as a local infrastructure asset for the area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand cubic meters per year and an annual discharge volume of 454.25, the plant operates well within its capacity. As a U.S. facility, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, ensuring compliance with federal water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into a local receiving water body, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. This connection highlights the plant's role in protecting downstream water quality in a major river system that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water resources for communities along its course.

The plant's discharge enters a local waterway that flows into the Mississippi River, a major North American river system. The Mississippi River supports a wide range of aquatic species and serves as a critical migratory corridor for birds and fish. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce pollutant loads, contributing to the ecological health of the river and its floodplain ecosystems.