New Athens STP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in New Athens, Illinois

New Athens STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in New Athens, Illinois, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,100 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under US regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater facilities. With a designed capacity of 1,135.62 thousand cubic meters and an annual discharge volume of 454.25, the plant operates within its capacity to manage local wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into a nearby water body, contributing to the local watershed that ultimately drains into the Mississippi River system. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is a major ecological corridor in the central United States.

The plant's discharge enters a local waterway that flows into the Mississippi River, one of the largest river systems in North America. The Mississippi River and its tributaries provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, and support extensive agricultural and industrial activities downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting water quality in the receiving waters.