Radcliffe Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hardin County, Iowa

Radcliffe Lagoon is a wastewater treatment facility located in Hardin County, Iowa, United States. The plant serves a small population of 574 residents, providing secondary treatment to municipal wastewater. It is situated in a rural area near State Highway 175, within the agricultural landscape of northern Iowa. The plant operates with a designed capacity of 151.42 million gallons per year and currently discharges a similar volume, indicating full utilization. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard requirements under the U.S. Clean Water Act for small communities. The plant is regulated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent from Radcliffe Lagoon is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Iowa River, a tributary of the Mississippi River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides habitat for fish and migratory birds. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in the region, which is dominated by agriculture and relies on healthy waterways for irrigation and recreation.

The plant discharges into small streams within the Iowa River basin, which flows southeast to join the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a major ecological corridor supporting hundreds of fish and bird species. The surrounding watershed is primarily agricultural, with row crops and livestock operations, making nutrient management critical to prevent algal blooms downstream. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, contributing to the overall health of the Mississippi River ecosystem.