Nickerson WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Nickerson, Nebraska

Nickerson WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Nickerson, Nebraska, serving a small population of 431 residents. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size in the United States, ensuring compliance with federal and state water quality standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 151.42 million gallons per year and discharges a similar volume, indicating full utilization. As a US facility, it operates under the Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which set effluent limits to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Platte River or the Elkhorn River, which ultimately flows into the Missouri River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream.

The plant discharges into a local stream that drains into the Platte River basin, a critical waterway for Nebraska's agriculture and wildlife. The Platte River is a major tributary of the Missouri River, supporting migratory birds and fish species. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.