Readstown WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Readstown, Wisconsin

Readstown WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Readstown, Vernon County, Wisconsin. The plant serves a small population of around 395 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. It operates under the regulatory framework of the United States Clean Water Act, which requires secondary treatment for municipal wastewater discharges. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 355.83 thousand gallons per day and an average discharge volume of 264.98 thousand gallons per day, the facility operates below its capacity. As a small-scale plant, it is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that flow into the Kickapoo River, a tributary of the Wisconsin River. The Kickapoo River is known for its scenic bluffs and diverse aquatic habitat, supporting species such as smallmouth bass and various freshwater mussels. The plant's discharge contributes to the overall water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant discharges into local waterways that drain into the Kickapoo River, which flows southward through the Driftless Area of Wisconsin before joining the Wisconsin River. The Wisconsin River ultimately empties into the Mississippi River, a major continental waterway. The Kickapoo River watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including native fish and mussel species, and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The region's karst topography and steep bluffs make groundwater and surface water particularly sensitive to nutrient pollution.