Parkersburg STL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Parkersburg, Iowa

Parkersburg STL is a wastewater treatment facility located in Parkersburg, Butler County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,870 residents and operates as part of the municipal infrastructure for the community. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove additional nutrients and contaminants. With a designed capacity of 1,851.06 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 757.08 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a US plant, it is subject to the Clean Water Act and operates under an NPDES permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Parkersburg STL is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources by reducing pollutant loads before discharge, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Cedar River, which flows into the Iowa River and eventually the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and drinking water downstream. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical for preventing algal blooms in the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone.