Quarter Mile Hills Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Boone County, Missouri

Quarter Mile Hills Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Boone County, Missouri, United States. The plant serves a small population of 20 people, reflecting its role as a local system for a rural or suburban community. It operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Water Act, which governs wastewater discharges through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level that removes biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 18.93 megaliters and an annual discharge volume of 7.57 megaliters, the facility operates well within its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or lagoon systems, consistent with the plant's name. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Missouri River watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Mississippi River basin. The plant's small scale and inland location minimize its environmental footprint, though proper nutrient management remains important for downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Missouri River, a major tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The receiving waters eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico, where nutrient loading from upstream sources can contribute to hypoxic zones. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants, but nutrient removal may be limited given its small scale.