OLMITZ WWTP - Secondary Treatment Facility in Barton County, Kansas

OLMITZ WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Barton County, Kansas, United States. The facility serves a small population of 135 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal waters, and operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for municipal wastewater facilities. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 56.78 million gallons per year and currently discharges 49.21 million gallons annually, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that are part of the Arkansas River basin, which ultimately drains into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operations help protect the water quality of these downstream water bodies, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses in the region.

The plant discharges into the Arkansas River basin, which flows through Kansas and Oklahoma before joining the Mississippi River and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important resource for agriculture and communities downstream. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, mitigating potential impacts on the river's health and the Gulf's hypoxic zone.