Murphysboro City of Wastewater Treatment Plant, Murphysboro, Illinois

The Murphysboro City of wastewater treatment plant is located at 2767 West Riverside Park Road in Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois. It serves a population of about 10,786 people, classifying it as a medium-sized municipal facility in the state's wastewater infrastructure. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, plants of this scale are typically required to meet secondary treatment standards through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. These permits set effluent limits to protect water quality in the receiving water body. The plant discharges treated wastewater into a local waterway that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River basin. The Mississippi River system supports diverse aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions downstream, making proper treatment essential for regional water quality.

The plant's treated effluent enters a tributary of the Big Muddy River, which flows into the Mississippi River near the southern tip of Illinois. The Mississippi River is a major ecological corridor supporting over 260 fish species and migratory birds. Downstream, the river feeds into the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources contributes to seasonal hypoxic zones.