RL CO S D TERRA HTS WWTP - Manhattan, Kansas Wastewater Treatment Plant

RL CO S D TERRA HTS WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. The plant serves a small population of approximately 100 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or suburban setting within Riley County. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 49.21 million gallons per day and a current discharge volume of 37.85 million gallons per day, indicating operational headroom. Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, facilities of this scale are typically regulated through National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, ensuring compliance with water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that drain into the Kansas River, a major tributary of the Missouri River system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and municipal uses downstream. The plant's operation helps protect the ecological health of the Kansas River basin and the broader Mississippi River watershed.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Kansas River, which joins the Missouri River and ultimately the Mississippi River. This watershed supports a variety of fish and wildlife species, including migratory birds and aquatic organisms. The region's agricultural landscape means that maintaining water quality is critical for both ecological balance and downstream human uses.