Overview
PATON WWTP is a secondary treatment plant serving Paton, Iowa. It treats wastewater for 255 residents with a discharge volume of 151.42 cubic meters per day.
PATON WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Paton, Iowa, United States. The facility serves a small population of 255 residents, reflecting the rural character of the community in Greene County. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal facilities. It has a designed capacity of 189.27 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 151.42 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. As a U.S. plant, it operates under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with effluent limits. The treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway within the Mississippi River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this agricultural region, where surface waters support aquatic life and recreational uses.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Raccoon River, which flows into the Des Moines River and ultimately the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for recreation and drinking water supply downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the river system.
Frequently asked questions
PATON WWTP is located in Paton, Iowa, United States, in Greene County. The facility serves the local community of about 255 residents.
The plant has a designed capacity of 189.27 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 151.42 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates below its maximum capacity.
The treated effluent is discharged to a local waterway that is part of the Raccoon River watershed, which flows into the Des Moines River and eventually the Mississippi River.
As a U.S. facility, PATON WWTP operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by an NPDES permit issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which sets effluent limits for secondary treatment.
For small communities like Paton, secondary treatment is standard. This typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting federal and state water quality standards.
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