Overview
PARIS SOUTH STP serves Paris, Illinois, treating wastewater for approximately 5,947 residents. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for municipal discharges.
PARIS SOUTH STP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Paris, Illinois, a small city in Edgar County. The plant serves a population of about 5,947 people, typical of a small agglomeration in the rural Midwest. Its operations are part of the local infrastructure managed by the city or a designated utility. As a U.S. facility, PARIS SOUTH STP is subject to the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is standard, and permits set limits on biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other pollutants. The plant likely employs conventional activated sludge or lagoon treatment, common for small communities. The treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway, likely a tributary of the Wabash River or the Embarras River, which ultimately flows to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality and recreational uses in the region.
Environmental context
PARIS SOUTH STP discharges into a local stream within the Wabash River basin, which drains to the Ohio River and then the Mississippi River. The receiving water body supports aquatic ecosystems and is used for recreation and agriculture. Maintaining low nutrient and pollutant loads is critical to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream habitats, including the Mississippi River's diverse fish and bird populations.
Frequently asked questions
PARIS SOUTH STP is located at 618 Dill Street, Paris, Illinois, in Edgar County, United States.
PARIS SOUTH STP serves approximately 5,947 residents, classifying it as a small municipal wastewater treatment plant.
The treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway within the Wabash River basin, which flows to the Ohio River and ultimately the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. facility, PARIS SOUTH STP operates under the Clean Water Act and must comply with an NPDES permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which sets discharge limits for pollutants.
For small communities around 6,000 people, secondary treatment is standard, often using activated sludge, oxidation ditches, or lagoon systems. NPDES permits require compliance with effluent limits for BOD, TSS, and other parameters.
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