OTHO STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Otho, Iowa

OTHO STL is a wastewater treatment plant located on Hayes Street in Otho, Iowa, serving the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 529 residents, with a designed capacity of 227.12 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 189.27 m³/day. As a secondary treatment facility, OTHO STL meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which mandates secondary treatment for municipal wastewater. The plant operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent from OTHO STL is discharged into local waterways that eventually drain into the Des Moines River basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and recreational uses downstream. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this rural Iowa watershed.

OTHO STL discharges treated wastewater into the Des Moines River basin, which flows southeast through Iowa and eventually joins the Mississippi River. The receiving waters support a variety of fish species and are used for recreation and irrigation. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollutants, protecting downstream aquatic habitats.