Overview
Mundelein STP in Libertyville, Illinois serves approximately 30,935 people. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, discharging treated wastewater into the Lake Michigan watershed.
Mundelein STP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Libertyville, Illinois, serving a population of about 30,935. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent ultimately drains into Lake Michigan via the Des Plaines River and Chicago River system. The plant operates under the US Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal facilities of this scale. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, govern discharge limits and monitoring requirements to protect water quality. The receiving water body is part of the Lake Michigan basin, a critical freshwater resource supplying drinking water to millions. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall nutrient load in the watershed, making nutrient removal and compliance with phosphorus limits important for preventing eutrophication in the lake.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Lake Michigan watershed, a vital freshwater ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for over 10 million people. The downstream water chain includes local tributaries flowing into the Des Plaines River, then the Chicago River, and finally Lake Michigan. Nutrient management is a key concern due to the risk of algal blooms in the lake.
Frequently asked questions
Mundelein STP is located in Libertyville, Illinois, United States, near the intersection of South Milwaukee Avenue and Trader Joe's.
Mundelein STP serves approximately 30,935 people in the Libertyville and Mundelein areas.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Lake Michigan watershed via local tributaries that flow into the Des Plaines River and Chicago River system.
Mundelein STP operates under the US Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which sets discharge limits and monitoring requirements.
For a plant serving about 30,000 people, secondary treatment is typically required under the Clean Water Act, often including biological processes and disinfection, with nutrient removal increasingly common to protect sensitive water bodies like Lake Michigan.
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