POWHATTAN WWTP - Secondary Treatment Plant in Powhattan, Kansas

POWHATTAN WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located at 1737 Goldfinch Road in Powhattan, Brown County, Kansas. The plant serves a small population of 91 residents, reflecting its role in a rural community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 45.42 units and an actual discharge volume of 34.07 units, the facility operates below its maximum capacity. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a stream or river within the Missouri River basin. The plant's location in northeastern Kansas places it in an agricultural region, where wastewater treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and groundwater resources. Proper treatment is essential for maintaining water quality in the region's surface waters.

The plant discharges into a local water body that flows into the Missouri River watershed, ultimately reaching the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, so the plant's effluent must meet standards to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect aquatic life in receiving streams. The facility's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, supporting the ecological health of downstream waters.