RAVENNA WWTP - Ravenna, Nebraska Wastewater Treatment Plant

RAVENNA WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Ravenna, Nebraska, United States. The plant serves a population of 1,323 and operates as part of the city's infrastructure to manage domestic wastewater from the community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the US Clean Water Act for municipal facilities of this scale. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's designed capacity is 1,173.47 megaliters, with an annual discharge volume of 946.35 megaliters, indicating operational capacity utilization within design limits. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that drain into the Platte River basin, a major tributary of the Missouri River system. The Platte River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds such as sandhill cranes. The plant's operations are subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, ensuring compliance with water quality standards.

The plant discharges into the Platte River watershed, which flows eastward to join the Missouri River and ultimately the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. The Platte River is a shallow, braided river that supports a unique ecosystem, including critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and endangered species like the interior least tern. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality in the river is essential for both ecological health and downstream water users.